Odd mix of fungi

Bracket looks like an old Ganoderma australe. After a few years of senescence or when really close to soil and leaf mould they go really dark like this, from what I see dealing with urban trees and stumps.

I remember reading something about a few fungi that degrade Ganoderma fruiting bodies, though I cannot rmember if it was a Xylaria or not.

At first glance, before I’d read the text, I thought that the first photo showed something like Exidia plana that had fallen to the ground. 😳

However, on reading your description, that it was hard and large, then I’d agree that it looks like a very old Ganoderma.

I don’t think that that the middle one, (upturned), is Datronia mollis, as the pores aren’t showing any of the angular “mazegill” characteristic typical of that species.

Whenever I’ve seen it, it has looked like this: –

[attachment=0]Common Mazegill – Datronia mollis.jpg[/attachment]

I can only think that the tiny orangey-red spheres in that middle photo might be one of the Nectria species – or one of Nectria’s closely related species.

(I.e. no idea whether it could be a possibility here, but Cosmospora coccinea is known to grow on rotting pores of polypores. – Although on checking the FRDBI, C.coccinea isn’t showing any British records).

I agree that the third is Xylaria hypoxylon – I see it at almost every site I visit, and it regularly appears with these flattened “deer antler” type shapes.

Regards,

Mike.