beefsteak fungus (also called ox-tongue fungus) Fistulina hepatica, a large bracket fungus which grows like a shelf from the trunks of oak and chestnut trees. It is found in Europe and parts of the USA, e.g. New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and some regions of southern Africa including Swaziland. It has pores, not gills, and belongs to the group of Polypores. The pores, however, are formed by small tubes which remain distinct and independent from each other, a feature which distinguishes this species from other polypores.
