Wildflowers Found in Oregon

Elegant Polypore Mushroom

Polyporus varius This leathery polypore has a cinnamon-buff to beige cap 2-4 inches across, round or kidney-shaped, often sunken in the center. The thin flesh is white to tan. Tiny pores on the underside of the cap, which is dull orange-brown, run down the stalk. 1/4 to 3 inches long and 1/16 to 5/8 inches thick, this central to lateral stalk begins the same color as the pore surface, then becomes black toward the base. The spore print is white. This common mushroom grows on dead deciduous wood and pine throughout North America. You can find it from late spring to late fall. The elegant polypore is pretty to look at, but it's way too tough to eat.