OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Bracket fungi are amazing mushrooms that grow on the sides of trees and look like hard, flat shelves sticking out from the trunk! Some people call them “shelf mushrooms” because they really do look like little shelves. Unlike soft mushrooms you see at the store, bracket fungi are usually very hard and tough, almost like wood.

Bracket fungi grow on the sides of trees, old logs, and stumps in forests around the world. They come in all sorts of colors, including brown, gray, white, orange, and even beautiful stripes. Some bracket fungi can grow to be bigger than a dinner plate! They can live on the same tree for many years, growing a new ring each year.