Sarcodontia setosa

Scientific name:  Sarcodontia setosa (Pers.) Donk
Derivation of name: setosa means "bristly."
Synonyms: Hydnum setosum Pers.  
Phylum:   Basidiomycota
Order:   Polyporales
Family:   Meruliaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate:  Saprobic; forming
spreading, crustlike patches on logs and branches of
deciduous trees, especially fruit trees such as apple; July
through October. 
Dimensions:  Fruit bodies 5-20 cm across; spines are 5-10
mm long.   
Description:  This bright yellow spreading crustlike fungus is
crowded with pendulous, waxy spines. The spines stain
reddish where bruised and the fungus has a sweet-fruity to
intensely unpleasant odor.   
Edibility: Inedible.
Comments: I have yet to encounter this species in a natural
habitat. It is apparently widely distributed but not common.
  
    

Figure 1. This specimen was collected at the 2001 NEMF
foray. The reddish mark in the center may be an example
of the wine-red stain which occurs following bruising.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 2. This specimen was collected from a dead apple
tree in PA and brought to an Eastern Penn
Mushroomers foray. Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 3. The yellow, pendulous spines can be up to
10 mm long.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 4. Teeth of Sarcodontia setosa.
Photo © John Plischke III.