# Oak Mazegill (*fomitopsis quercina*)

The Oak Mazegill is a fascinating fungus that grows on oak trees! Its unique maze-like patterns make it look like nature's art.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** It lives on the trunks and stumps of oak trees in forests and woodlands.
- **Also known as:** Fomitopsis, Maze Fungus, Oak Shelf Fungus

![Oak Mazegill](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Fomitopsis_quercina_342296418.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Matej Frančeškin, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fomitopsis_quercina_342296418.jpg)

## Appearance

The Oak Mazegill has a tough, bracket-shaped body that grows flat against wood. Its upper surface is typically reddish-brown to orange-brown, often zoned. The underside is creamy white, featuring a distinctive maze-like pattern of elongated pores.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Polyporales
- **Family:** Fomitopsidaceae
- **Genus:** Fomitopsis

## Interesting facts

- It plays a vital role in cleaning up forests by decomposing fallen oak branches.
- Its scientific name, 'quercina', means 'of oak' because it only grows on oak trees!
- The mazey pattern on its underside helps identify it quickly from other bracket fungi.
- This tough fungus can live for many years, adding new growth rings each season!

## Special abilities

- **Maze Spore Factory:** Oak Mazegill has unique maze-like pores that help it release spores efficiently into the air.
- **Wood Recycler:** Oak Mazegill can break down tough oak wood, turning dead trees into new soil nutrients.
- **Enduring Shield:** Oak Mazegill has a very hard, woody texture that helps protect it from drying out and pests.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-8 cm
- **Edible:** inedible
- **Size:** 5-20 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** wood
- **Season:** Year-round
- **Spore Color:** White

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — obtains nutrients from its dead wood.
- **Eats:** Ciid Beetle (*Eledona agricola*) — larvae bore into and feed on its fungal tissue.
- **Eaten by:** Spanish Slug (*Arion lusitanicus*) — slugs sometimes graze on its softer edges.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [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:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Oak Mazegill?

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 Oak Mazegill?

2-8 cm

### Is Oak Mazegill edible?

inedible

### How big is Oak Mazegill?

5-20 cm

### Where is Oak Mazegill usually found?

It lives on the trunks and stumps of oak trees in forests and woodlands.

### What does Oak Mazegill grow on?

wood

### When is Oak Mazegill in season?

Year-round

### What color are Oak Mazegill spores?

White

## Where to spot

- [South Mountain Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-mountain-reservation) — New Jersey, US · Nature Reserve

## 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*)

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Source: [Oak Mazegill: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oak-mazegill)