Chaga in England??

[Sundowner]

Found this a week ago but it was totally soaked/rotten. I know it's chaga even though it didn't grow on a birch.
Now then , my question is ....has anyone ever come across chaga on a birch tree in England? And which county? If you want to be more precise on location please do !!��

TIA

 

[Fadcode]

well spotted, normally only grows in the colder climates, maybe Global Warming isn,t happening, have a nice cup of char with it, and stay healthy

 

[Sundowner]

Been looking for a few weeks now but no joy.....just that unusable sodden bit in the photos above ����

 

[Toddy]

It dries you know
Seriously, it does, and even rotted it takes a spark really well.

M

 

[Limaed]

I don't think that is Chaga Sundowner. It doesn't tend to wet out like a sponge and the removal scar looks wrong. If you break it open it will be corky inside. I agree with Mary, let it dry out as quite a few fungi will take a spark.

As for finding Chaga, I've seen it most on mature trees usually in old stands. Quite common in the Highlands less so elsewhere. Here's an example for reference:

 

[Sundowner]

I don't think that is Chaga Sundowner. It doesn't tend to wet out like a sponge and the removal scar looks wrong. If you break it open it will be corky inside. I agree with Mary, let it dry out as quite a few fungi will take a spark.

As for finding Chaga, I've seen it most on mature trees usually in old stands. Quite common in the Highlands less so elsewhere. Here's an example for reference:

View attachment 43071

We'll now. I only started a few weeks back looking for chaga. Whilst this wasn't of a birch tree it had the corby orange bit inside. However, I'm looking to make tea from it and once it is soaked through like that it wouldn't have the beneficial properties anymore
Next time I'm in the Highlands I'll be spending days looking for it as it really looks like there's none or very little in England .
Thanks for your thoughts

 

[Toddy]

Three things then.

The chaga from birch is the preferred because it absorbs from the tree those very things you are looking for in the tea. It does grow on alder and beech too though.

It takes a lot of boiling, and it will take repeated boilings too. I doubt there'd be nothing worth obtaining from stuff that's just wet.

Even boiled out, the dried chaga is a good spark catcher, and is used as an incense too.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Sundowner]

Ok ��
I'll go back today and fetch it.
BTW I found plenty of horse hoof fungus for the sparky thing����

 

[Toddy]

It's very good and it can be a fire carrier too
If you hollow out a little of the centre (on the underside, where the spores are) and get an ember into the space, then blow it up into a glow that gets a hold of the fungus, it'll happily glow away for hours. Easy to start a fire from and easy to carry a light safely too.

Interested to hear how you get on with the chaga though.


M

 

[awarner]

Had a single small sample it in my woods in Hampshire, but on a dead birch so no good for consumption as birch was getting covered in turkey tail but ok for tinder.
Not seen it since.