Oak mazegill

Daedalea quercina

"Daedalea quercina" is a species of mushroom in the order Polyporales, and the type species of the genus "Daedalea". The specific epithet refers to the oak genus "Quercus", upon which it frequently grows, causing a brown rot. It is found in Europe, Asia, Northern Africa and Australasia.
Oak Mazegill - Daedalea quercina Flat, fan-shaped fruiting bodies with amazingly intricate maze-like pores that were very deep, thick, and fuzzy. Sizes ranged from 5-10 cm wide. Habitat: Growing on rotting wood in a mixed forest. The fruiting bodies of Daedalea quercina have some unusual uses. They can be used as a natural comb, especially for brushing horses with sensitive skin. In addition, the smoldering fruiting bodies may be used to anesthetize bees. This species has also been investigated for bioremediation, and for medicinal purposes. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67368/oak_mazegill_-_daedalea_quercina.html Daedalea quercina,Fall,Geotagged,Oak mazegill,United States,fungus,mushroom

Appearance

The sessile, fan-shaped fruiting bodies are typically 3–20 centimetres in diameter and up to 8 centimetres thick. They are found singly or in tiered groups, usually on rotting oak. The upper surface of the cap may be various shades of brown, and is sometimes zonate. The pore surface, white to tan in color, is initially porous, but as the fruit body matures, some of the pore walls break down, forming slits with blunt partitions. This results in the characteristic maze-like appearance. The tube walls are 10–30 mm long, with thick walls. The basidiospores are 5–7 × 2–4 µm, smooth, and elliptical in shape. In deposit the spores are white.

This mushroom is inedible due to its cork-like texture.

A variant has been described that has large, angular pores similar to those in the genus "Trametes", named "D. quercina" forma "trametea".
Oak Mazegill Flat, fan-shaped fruiting bodies with amazingly intricate maze-like pores that were very deep, thick, and fuzzy. Sizes ranged from 6-10 cm wide. The fruiting bodies of Daedalea quercina have some unusual uses. They can be used as a natural comb, especially for brushing horses with sensitive skin. In addition, the smoldering fruiting bodies may be used to anesthetize bees. This species has also been investigated for bioremediation, and for medicinal purposes. Daedalea,Daedalea quercina,Geotagged,Oak Mazegill,United States,Winter,fungus,mazegill,mushroom

Distribution

Although "D. quercina" prefers to grow on "Quercus" species, it has also been found on the tree species "Fagus grandifolia", "Fraxinus americana", "Juglans nigra", and "Ulmus americana".

It has been reported from nearly all European countries, following the pattern of oak distribution. It has also been reported in Northern Africa, Asia from Caucasus to India, and also Australia.
Oak Mazegill - Daedalea quercina Flat, fan-shaped fruiting bodies with amazingly intricate maze-like pores that were very deep, thick, and fuzzy. The fruiting bodies of Daedalea quercina have some unusual uses. They can be used as a natural comb, especially for brushing horses with sensitive skin. In addition, the smoldering fruiting bodies may be used to anesthetize bees. This species has also been investigated for bioremediation, and for medicinal purposes. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/91876/oak_mazegill_-_daedalea_quercina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/91875/oak_mazegill_-_daedalea_quercina.html Daedalea quercina,Geotagged,Oak mazegill,Summer,United States,daedalea,fungus,mushroom,polypore

Habitat

Although "D. quercina" prefers to grow on "Quercus" species, it has also been found on the tree species "Fagus grandifolia", "Fraxinus americana", "Juglans nigra", and "Ulmus americana".

It has been reported from nearly all European countries, following the pattern of oak distribution. It has also been reported in Northern Africa, Asia from Caucasus to India, and also Australia.
Oak Mazegill - Daedalea quercina Flat, fan-shaped fruiting bodies with amazingly intricate maze-like pores that were very deep, thick, and fuzzy. The fruiting bodies of Daedalea quercina have some unusual uses. They can be used as a natural comb, especially for brushing horses with sensitive skin. In addition, the smoldering fruiting bodies may be used to anesthetize bees. This species has also been investigated for bioremediation, and for medicinal purposes. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/91874/oak_mazegill_-_daedalea_quercina.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/91876/oak_mazegill_-_daedalea_quercina.html Daedalea quercina,Geotagged,Oak mazegill,Summer,United States

Uses

Fruit bodies of "D. quercina" have been used as a natural comb, employed for brushing down horses with tender skin. Gilbertson notes that in England, smoldering fruit bodies were used for anesthetizing bees.

This species has been investigated for application in bioremediation. The lignin-degrading enzyme laccase, isolated and purified from "D. quercina", has shown use in biodegrading a variety of toxic dyes and pigments.

The compound quercinol, isolated from the oak mazegill, has anti-inflammatory activity, and inhibits the enzymes cyclooxygenase 2, xanthine oxidase, and horseradish peroxidase.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomFungi
DivisionBasidiomycota
ClassAgaricomycetes
OrderPolyporales
FamilyFomitopsidaceae
GenusDaedalea
SpeciesD. quercina
Photographed in
Belgium
Germany
Netherlands
United States of America