Shelf mushrooms on maple trunk

[Cake O' Maple]

I'm thinking of tapping 2 trees my friend has on her property. Both are yard trees, good canopy, seem to be in good health, and eyeballing the diameter, I'd say at least 20". My concern is that one of them has several shelf mushrooms (what do you call them?) on one side of its trunk. It's the side facing the driveway, and no trees across the driveway to block or shade that side of the tree. Assuming the road is true, they face west.

Is there any harm being done to the tree I need to worry about for sugaring? Any reason to not tap it or only use 1 tap? TIA

[red maples]

Not sure they might be isolated to that spot on the bark. I do know if you get a series of smaller shrooms growing along a large section on 1 side of the tree its pretty much dead on that side. and the tree is dying. If it is in the one spot and there are leaves on branches above and below those shrooms then the tree is probably Fine. Removal of the mushrooms might ba a good idea... I am no expert...just my 2 cents!!

[chrislanfear]

Im pretty sure these mushrooms you are seeing are oyster mushrooms. They are delicious,but i dont reccomend you eat them if your unsure. I would look at the crown to see if the tree has leaves or not. If it does then the mushrooms are proably just there because of the abundance of moisture weve had lately.

[red maples]

oyster mushrooms are Fairly small and in little clusters, I think He's talking about those huge ones that can be a foot wide.

[Cake O' Maple]

Thanks for the responses! There are 4-5 mushrooms, spaced several inches apart, and probably are 6-8" wide. They are below the lowest branches, and the branches above are fully "leaved." The size and shape of the canopy of leaves looks really good.

I googled shelf mushrooms yesterday, and didn't find much except to confirm what Red Maples said about probably being rot inside. I have no idea how long they've been there, so there may have been an injury and the spores got in, or it's maybe beginning to die.

BTW, I'm a "she." ;)

[Mountain Winds Farm]

I believe they are called artist conk and if the tree has them then they are feeding on a dying tree. Their roots are growing inside the trunk and they are feeding off of it. You could check with your local cooperative extension or maybe online to Cornell

[red maples]

Sorry about that lots of he's on here :rolleyes:, No signature so I didn't know. :emb: