Found this.

[ChefCrash]

Cought a glimpse of this under the deck as I was cleaning the yard.

It's dry, feels like cork.

[dougal]

Its a bracket fungus, but not one of the few I recognise as edible and worthwhile.

Especially as you note that it has an unappetising texture ("cork"), I think its very likely one for the compost heap...

[ChefCrash]

Thanks dougal.

I think its very likely one for the compost heap...

Naahhh.. I think I'm gonna place it in the litter box and hide the cat then wait for my wife to discover it.

Edited April 3, 2006 by ChefCrash (log)

[Hiroyuki]

I think it's a mushroom called reishi, also known as "saru no koshikake" (monkey's stool)" in Japanese.

[Gifted Gourmet]

also known as "saru no koshikake" (monkey's stool)" in Japanese.

←

how very enticing and appetizing ...

[Hiroyuki]

also known as "saru no koshikake" (monkey's stool)" in Japanese.

←

how very enticing and appetizing ...

←

Maybe a homonym problem... "Koshikake" means stool as in falling between two stools.

But I'm sure the name is more appetizing than bahun uni (horse dung sea urchin).

[Pallee]

It's a type of polypore. Very beautiful. Some times they are used for dyes. They usually grow on dead wood or roots and usually indicate rot of some sort, so I probably wouldn't be having any polka dances on your deck until you get the structure checked!

[jackal10]

Traditionally dried and used as tinder