The artist's bracket fungus is a common bracket fungus on deciduous trees, especially beech. It is a common cause of death and decay in its victim which, as well as beech, can affect other species such as oak, poplar, horse chestnut and even apple. Once established this species is very hard to get rid of and like many other brackets are something of a problem to foresters but a joy to naturalists!
Why is it called artists fungus? Because you can actually draw on the underside from where the spores emerge. If you scratch the surface with a sharp implement it changes from light to dark brown producing visible lines. If you rub it you can introduce shading and so the potential to create a work of art is there ...
The tops of the bracket are reddish brown at first and the undersides white but they soon harden and discolour to shades of dark brown. Whilst not poisonous they are not edible and there is no reason on earth why you should want to try!
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