# Beefsteak Fungus (*Fistulina*)

The Beefsteak Fungus looks like a piece of steak! This unique fungus grows on trees and is a fun find for nature explorers.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** On oak trees in forests
- **Also known as:** Beefsteak Polypore, Fistulina Hepatica

![Beefsteak Fungus](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425961/objects/5122.jpg)

## Appearance

The Beefsteak Fungus is a striking, bracket-shaped mushroom that genuinely resembles a raw cut of meat. Its upper surface ranges from pinkish-red to reddish-brown, often exuding a distinctive red, blood-like juice. The underside is creamy-white with many small, round pores instead of gills.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Agaricales
- **Family:** Fistulinaceae
- **Genus:** Fistulina

## Interesting facts

- Early Romans thought this fungus tasted like veal tongue!
- It has tiny tubes underneath, not blade-like gills!
- Its red juice was once used as a natural dye.
- This fungus can live for many years on the same tree!

## Special abilities

- **Wood Decomposer:** Beefsteak Fungus can break down tough oak wood, recycling nutrients back into the forest soil.
- **Bleeding Juice:** Beefsteak Fungus has a reddish-brown juice that helps deter pests and gives it a meat-like appearance.
- **Meat Mimicry:** Beefsteak Fungus can visually mimic a raw beefsteak, making it a unique and intriguing woodland discovery.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-6 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Size:** 10-30 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** wood
- **Season:** Late summer to autumn
- **Spore Color:** White to pinkish-yellow

## Ecological connections

- **Parasitizes:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — Causes brown rot decay in the heartwood.
- **Parasitizes:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Feeds on the wood of living or dead oak trees.
- **Parasitizes:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Less commonly, found growing on beech trees.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Beefsteak Fungus?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Beefsteak Fungus?

2-6 cm

### Is Beefsteak Fungus edible?

edible

### How big is Beefsteak Fungus?

10-30 cm

### Where is Beefsteak Fungus usually found?

On oak trees in forests

### What does Beefsteak Fungus grow on?

wood

### When is Beefsteak Fungus in season?

Late summer to autumn

### What color are Beefsteak Fungus spores?

White to pinkish-yellow

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

---

Source: [Beefsteak Fungus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/beefsteak-fungus)