Cerioporus leptocephalus

Scientific name: Cerioporus leptocephalus (Jacq.)
Zmitr.
Derivation of name: Meaning of Cerioporus TBD;
leptocephalus means "slender-headed" from lepto-
meaning "thin" or "slender" and cephal- meaning "head."
Synonymy: Polyporus leptocephalus (Jacq.) Fr.;
Polyporus elegans Fr.
Common names:   Elegant polypore.
Phylum:   Basidiomycota
Order:   Polyporales
Family:   Polyporaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate:  Saprobic; solitary to
scattered on dead deciduous wood, sometimes on conifers;
June through November.  
Dimensions:  Caps 1-12 cm wide; stipes 0.5-7.5 cm long
and 1.5-15 mm thick, central to lateral.   
Upper surface: Yellowish to ochre to tan; smooth; glabrous;
not zonate.
Pore surface: White to gray or yellowish; pores 4-5 per
mm.
Edibility: Inedible.
Comments: The black base of the stalk is an important
field character. If the cap surface or margin of the cap is
radially striate (Figure 6), the specimen may be a closely
related species Cerioporus varius. However, some
authorities consider them to be the same species.

More information at MushroomExpert.com:   

Figure 1. A solitary specimen of Cerioporus
leptocephalus on a fallen branch.
Photo © Gary Emberger.


Figure 2. Scattered specimens of Cerioporus
leptocephalus on a log.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 3. Elegant polypore fruiting from the broken ends
of small branches. Photo © Gary Emberger.


Figure 4. Note the black stipe bases and different stipe
positions. Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 5. The black coloration at the base of the stipe
may be quite limited as in these specimens. Photo © Gary
Emberger.

Figure 6. The radially striate cap of this specimen indicates
it is Cerioporus varius, not C. leptocephalus. Otherwise,
the two species are very similar macroscopically.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 7. Sectioned caps of Cerioporus leptocephalus
showing the light tan colored context and the tube layer.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 8. The pore surface is decurrent to the black
portion of the stipe. Photo © Gary Emberger.

FIgure 9. Cerioporus leptocephalus has tiny pores, 4-5
per mm.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 10. Specimens collected during a foray. The stipe is
just about lateral in one specimen and nearly central in the
other. Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 11. Collection of Cerioporus leptocephalus at the
2008 NEMF foray in Connecticut.
Photo © Gary Emberger.