Fistulina hepatica

Fistulina hepatica, commonly known as the beefsteak fungus, beefsteak polypore, poor man’s steak, ox tongue, or tongue mushroom, is an unusual bracket fungus classified in the Agaricales, that is commonly seen in Britain and the rest of Europe, but which can be found in North America, Australia, North Africa, and Southern Africa. As its name suggests, it looks remarkably similar to a slab of raw meat. It has been used as a meat substitute in the past, and can still be found in some French markets. It has a sour, slightly acidic taste. For eating, it must be collected young and it may be tough and need to be cooked for a long time.

Fistulina hepatica
Beefsteak fungus
Carlo Vittadini: Fistulina hepatica (1835)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Fistulinaceae
Genus: Fistulina
Species:
F. hepatica
Binomial name
Fistulina hepatica
(Schaeff.) With. (1792)
Synonyms

Boletus hepaticus Schaeff. (1774)
Fistulina buglossoides Bull. (1790)
Boletus hepaticus Vent. (1812)
Hypodrys hepaticus (Schaeff.) Pers. (1825)

Fistulina hepatica
Mycological characteristics
Pores on hymenium
Cap is flat or offset
Hymenium is decurrent
Stipe is bare
Spore print is pink
Ecology is parasitic
Edibility is choice
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