Could This Be Tinder Fungus Here In The Southeast U.S.?

Mistwalker

Mistwalker

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After wrapping up at work today I still had some daylight left...now that DST has kicked in again, so I went for a walk to look around at the beginnings of spring. I was surprised that I may have found something I didn't expect to find this far south.

Nice blue sky with white puffy clouds.

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New growth is under way.

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Old leaves still on a few trees.

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Fungi emerging along with new green shoots.

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Termites doing their thing.

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Then I found this...it looks like what I have seen of tinder fungus, and it is on a birch tree...

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And it isn't exactly small, and it's about 8 feet in the air.

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.
 
+1 I have to be envious of yours as I have NEVER found it this far south. No tinder fungus, no palm fibers, and cedar bark is a pain... However, we do make up for it in fatwood, pitch pine, lighter pine, call it what you will, for me it's gooey gold!
 
I only even known about tinder fungus for about 4 or 5 years, but I've been looking for it since I read about it and came to the conclusion it didn't exist this far south. I'm going to take an ax next time and collect some of it to experiment with.
 
nice pics, man! that looks like "chaga" from others' pics i've seen. it can be used in different ways including tea? i've never seen it in person though, just going by what i've been reading.
 
hollowdweller said:
We have it here in WV in the mountains.

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Cool, I was pretty sure it was that far south, I've had friends tell me they've found it there and in Pennsylvania, but I didn't expect to find it on the Tennessee / Georgia line after 5 years of searching. It is up on a mountain so it's a little cooler up there than down here in the valley. Gives me hope that maybe there is more.
 
Do you know what elevation? Looks like yellow birch, not black. Can you confirm? Thanks for sharing.
 
Heck, I live in the Atlanta Metro area and have seen those growths on trees, referring to the photo in post #1. I asked and was told it is a 'canker'. When I asked if it was a burl I was told no. It is caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses. Here is a wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canker

In the wiki article is a photo of a birch tree with a canker. Doesn't look like the elusive tinder fungus to me.
 
abo4ster said:
Do you know what elevation? Looks like yellow birch, not black. Can you confirm? Thanks for sharing.
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The elevation of Signal Mountain is 1000 feet give or take a few feet. No not at the moment but I'll see what I can find out for sure.


jorasco312 said:
Heck, I live in the Atlanta Metro area and have seen those growths on trees, referring to the photo in post #1. I asked and was told it is a 'canker'. When I asked if it was a burl I was told no. It is caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses. Here is a wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canker

In the wiki article is a photo of a birch tree with a canker. Doesn't look like the elusive tinder fungus to me.
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It sure looks similar to what Tony M sent me but feels "softer" in places, so I guess I'll be getting some of it in a day or two to find out.
 
If I read the wiki/definition correctly; Birch with Chaga on it, would still be exhibiting a canker.

I see a LOT of birch with canker. Birch makes up so much of my local woodland and there are so many heavily burled and cankered specimens.

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This tree was less than a foot in diameter (at the break).

Obviously I'm a fair few miles away from you and your fauna, but from what I've observed on my native Birches, this looks to be worth investigating. Although....http://www.mushroomhunter.net/011111.htm

I HOPE you may actually have dropped on amigo.

ps. Cue DC....
[video=youtube;AM2STJ790k8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM2STJ790k8[/video]
 
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I live at about 600' and I don't ever see it where I live.

Where I go backpacking there's a lot of it always growing on yellow birch Elevation is around 3000 or so.
 
we have a tree in my parent's backyard Mist that looks almost exactly like your tinder fungus. we live in the piedmont of NC about 45 mins south of Va. the tree is either a burch or a maple. ill have to check. in fact when i think about it. ill take a pic of it and load it here
 
scruffuk said:
If I read the wiki/definition correctly; Birch with Chaga on it, would still be exhibiting a canker.

I see a LOT of birch with canker. Birch makes up so much of my local woodland and there are so many heavily burled and cankered specimens.

P1223162.jpg


This tree was less than a foot in diameter (at the break).

Obviously I'm a fair few miles away from you and your fauna, but from what I've observed on my native Birches, this looks to be worth investigating. Although....http://www.mushroomhunter.net/011111.htm

I HOPE you may actually have dropped on amigo.

ps. Cue DC....
[video=youtube;AM2STJ790k8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM2STJ790k8[/video]
Click to expand...

Thanks Scruff, definitely going to investigate more.
 
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