Ryanoceros Posted February 1, 2020 Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 So I found what I'm pretty sure is chaga...only problem it was on a birch tree! See picures. Any help would be appreciated! As a bonus I also found some late frozen oysters! still had a few good ones! (the glove was for my friend who said I was wasting my time) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 1, 2020 Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 The pictures didn't show up. Did you mean that it wasn't found on a birch tree? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryanoceros Posted February 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 Yes sorry, was NOT on a birch tree. I'll try the pictures again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Christensen Posted February 1, 2020 Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 It does look like Chaga, but I'm not good with pictures. If you have the geo tag on and you found it in Indiana, Steve Russell may be interested. Only one confirmed in Indiana so far. Or post it in Indiana mushrooms on Facebook. That's a sister group to this one and is more active. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 1, 2020 Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 It's not Chaga. I saw this exact same formation on a wounded oak tree around here. It's a growth. My first thought was Chaga, But like you noted, it wasn't on birch. After having found Chaga in Minnesota, it is not Chaga. The look alike that I found on an oak appears to be some kind of sap build up on a diseased oak, as when I cut it off, there was quite a bit of liquid. The inside doesn't have that golden color to it. It's more rusty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryanoceros Posted February 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 Its definitely a fungus of some kind, not a growth of wood. I'm going to go back today and try to grab some better pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryanoceros Posted February 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 Ok got a few more pictures but the lighting this time of year is awful. Also, will post on the Facebook thing just waiting for join request. There was also a small spot coming through on the other side of the tree. Found another one that looked similar though a lot smaller. Both trees had the same toadstool as shown in pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryanoceros Posted February 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2020 Just as an update it seems it is confirmed as chaga. Sent a sample to Russel the president of indiana mushrooms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 7, 2020 Report Share Posted February 7, 2020 Seriously? That must be a new discovery. I'm looking forward to seeing something published on that. Can you please update on this thread when that happens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryanoceros Posted February 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2020 https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/38368397?fbclid=IwAR3uLmW7jzLhSFBAnYxZpLJrMcJ7QKbhc6dkKWsnuo4bBViVTP58FGq95c0 This is what he posted so far. Has only been a few days and I'm sure he's pretty busy. Will keep an eye on it over the next few weeks to see any updates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 9, 2020 Report Share Posted February 9, 2020 If this is indeed Chaga, then I'm sure it's the same growth I found on an oak tree. If another specimen is needed from another source, I'd be glad to not only harvest one, but also show where it's at to anyone researching this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 9, 2020 Report Share Posted February 9, 2020 (edited) Duplicate post I can't delete, just edit Edited February 9, 2020 by Hoosierfunguy Duplicate post, couldn't delete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Christensen Posted February 9, 2020 Report Share Posted February 9, 2020 If this one does come back as Chaga it would only be the second one documented in Indiana, both I think were from northern Indiana. So I think if you have a possible Chaga species, I'm sure Steve Russell would like another, especially if from a more southern location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 9, 2020 Report Share Posted February 9, 2020 The one I found was in northern Indiana. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 23, 2020 Report Share Posted February 23, 2020 I'm headed to the woods tomorrow, where I found that growth a few years ago. I'm planning to go back and see if it's still there. I'll take pictures of it before I harvest it. If anyone wants a sample for study, let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Christensen Posted February 23, 2020 Report Share Posted February 23, 2020 10 hours ago, Hoosierfunguy said: I'm headed to the woods tomorrow, where I found that growth a few years ago. I'm planning to go back and see if it's still there. I'll take pictures of it before I harvest it. If anyone wants a sample for study, let me know. Just get a sample, post the picks and send a sample to to Steve Russell. He may contact you or I'll PM his address to send it to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 23, 2020 Report Share Posted February 23, 2020 Cool. Any advice on the best way to harvest it, so it might continue to grow in the future? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 23, 2020 Report Share Posted February 23, 2020 Okay, found a couple of these Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Christensen Posted February 24, 2020 Report Share Posted February 24, 2020 I'll be sure Steve gets a look at this today most likely and have him get back with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierfunguy Posted February 24, 2020 Report Share Posted February 24, 2020 Cool. Thanks Chris. I'm curious to know if the properties are the same (or similar) as Chaga found on Birch, Aspen and Poplar, being an immune system booster, with antioxidants and effective at fighting cancer. They were both found on white oak trees, being the second and third fruiting bodies I've found on oaks, all within 100 yards of each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosiermushrooms Posted February 24, 2020 Report Share Posted February 24, 2020 My initial take on the latest round of images is that it would not be Chaga. I am still waiting on getting some results from the OP. I will update here once I have them. Chaga has been reported on a variety of trees. It is just most common on birch, but can appear elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Persephale Posted February 26, 2022 Report Share Posted February 26, 2022 Consider one more point: Chaga should not be collected in regions with high radioactive backgrounds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Persephale Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 Consider one more point: Chaga should not be collected in regions with high radioactive backgrounds. It is known that the degree of accumulation of radionuclides by fungi strongly depends on what and where they grow. Fungi growing on wood always accumulate radioactive elements to a much lesser extent than soil ones. The season of collecting chaga, no matter what you read about it, does not matter. Just proceed from when you have free time or when the Chaga is seen best. Usually, chaga mushroom is most convenient to extract in winter. At this moment, the forest is bare, and large black sclerotia are perfectly visible against the background of white birches and white snow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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