Scientific name: Daedalea quercina (L.) Pers.
Derivation of name: Daedalea is derived from
Daidalos, builder of the labyrinth of the Minotaur in Crete,
in reference to the labyrinthiform pores of this fungus;
quercina refers to the oak (Quercus) genus.
Synonymy: Lenzites quercina (L.) P. Karst.
Trametes quercina (L.) Pilat
Common names: Thick-maze oak polypore.
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Order: Polyporales
Family: Fomitopsidaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic; solitary to
several on decaying deciduous wood, particularly oak
(Quercus); year-round.
Dimensions: Caps 5-20 cm wide; up to 8 cm thick.
Upper surface: Grayish to brownish-yellow to brownish-
orange to brown to black; mostly smooth; not typically
zonate.
Pore surface: White to brownish; conspicuously
mazelike,
with lamellate portions;
pore walls thick (about
1 mm or
more); pore openings 1-4 mm
wide.
Edibility: Inedible.
Comments: Compare to Daedaleopsis confragosa
which superficially resembles it.
More information at MushroomExpert.com
![](../images/D%20quercina%20habit%20GE.jpg)
Figure 1. Daedalea quercina on an oak log.
Photo
©
Gary Emberger.
![](../images/D%20quercina%20two%20caps%20GE.jpg)
Figure 2. A closer view of two of the specimens on the
log in Figure 1. Photo ©
Gary Emberger.
![](../images/D%20quercina%20cap%20closeup%20GE.jpg)
Figure 3. Note the mostly smooth cap and almost uniform
coloration. Photo © Gary Emberger.
![](../images/D%20quercina%20around%20twigs%20GE.jpg)
Figure 4. Daedalea quercina envelops objects it
encounters while growing. This manner of growth
contrasts with species that push objects out of the way
as they develop. Photo © Gary Emberger.
![](../images/D%20quercina%20edge%20closeup%20GE.jpg)
Figure 5. The plain top surface contrasts with the pore
surface. Photo © Gary Emberger.
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![](../images/D%20quercina%20top%20and%20bottom%20GE.jpg)
Figure 6. Top and bottom views of Daedalea quercina.
Photo © Gary Emberger.
![](../images/D%20quercina%20full%20on%20bottom%20GE.jpg)
Figure 7. Daedalea quercina develops a beautiful
labyrinth-like pattern of tube openings. Photo
©
Gary
Emberger.
![](../images/D%20quercina%20ruler%20GE.jpg)
Figure 8.
A mm scale is in view. Note the thickness of the
pore
walls and the width of the pore openings. Compare
to Figure 9.
Photo © Gary
Emberger.
![](../images/D%20quercina%20ruler2%20GE.jpg)
Figure 9. Compare to Figure 8. The pore walls are thinner
in this specimen and the pore openings are wider.
Photo © Gary Emberger.
![](../images/D%20quercina%20oak%20wood%20GE.jpg)
Figure 10. Daedalea quercina is aptly named because
quercina refers to oak, the favored substrate of this fungus.
This close view of the cut end of the log in Figure 1 reveals
the ring-porous structure of the wood and the presence of
thick rays. These traits are characteristic of oak (Quercus).
Photo © Gary Emberger.
![](../images/Daedaleopsis%20confragosa%20and%20D%20quercina.jpg)
Figure 11. At the top is Daedalea quercina and at the
bottom
is Daedaleopsis confragosa. Although both have
a daedaloid pore
surface, the walls and pore openings are
much more robust in
Daedalea quercina. Photo © Gary
Emberger.
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