Vanderbylia robiniophila

Scientific name: Vanderbylia robiniophila (Murrill) B. K.
Cui & Y. C. Dai
Derivation of name: robiniophila means "black
locust (Robinia) loving."
Synonymy: Perenniporia robiniophila (Murrill)
Ryvarden; Trametes robiniophila Murr.; Polyporus
robiniophilus (Murr.) Lloyd
Common names: Unknown. 
Phylum:   Basidiomycota
Order:   Polyporales
Family:   Polyporaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate:  Parasitic; solitary or in
overlapping clusters on living deciduous trees, especially
black locust and hackberry, but other hardwood genera
as well; year-round. 
Dimensions:  Caps 4-20 cm wide; 3.5-15 cm long; 1-5 cm
thick.  
Upper surface: White, becoming smoky or yellowish on
drying; rough with warts and other protuberances.
Pore surface: White; pores 4-6 per mm.
Comments: A cause of heart rot in living trees.

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Figure 1. Vanderbylia robiniophila on hackberry
(Celtis occidentalis) in June, 2004. See Figure 7.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 2. A closer look at some of the vertically oriented,
overlapping shelves of Vanderbylia robiniophila from
Figure 1. Photo © Gary Emberger.


Figure 3. Vanderbylia robiniophila on black locust
(Robinia pseudoacacia). Note the bumpy upper surface.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 4. Pleasing fungus beetles (Megalodacne sp.)
doing their thing associated with Vanderbylia
robiniophila on hackberry. Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 5. Larva of pleasing fungus beetle feeding on
Vanderbylia robiniophila.
Photo © Gary Emberger.


Figure 6. The feeding tunnels and frass produced by the
fungus beetles make quite a mess of many of the conks.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 7. Year after year of the fungus plundering the
wood led to this outcome in January, 2006 during a
storm. This is the hackberry tree of Figure 1.
Photo © Gary Emberger.