Beefsteak Fungus / Ox Tongue

Overview

Tongue- or liver-shaped bracket emerging from living oak (Quercus spp.) and sweet chestnut (Castanea dentata), usually from trunk wounds or the base — occasionally other hardwoods. Causes brown heart rot in the living host and continues on the dead wood. Deep blood-red to orange-red, soft and moist; cream pores beneath bruise red; flesh marbled like raw meat and BLEEDS dark red juice when cut. One of the very few wild mushrooms considered safe to eat raw — sour, slightly acidic, vaguely like rare beef. Young specimens preferred; older ones turn tough and very sour. Aug–Oct, Appalachians and eastern US, 200–2500 ft following oak distribution. No toxic lookalikes when the bleeding red juice and raw-meat character are confirmed.

Season

Aug – Oct — typical fruiting months: Jul, Aug, Sep.

Host trees & substrate

• Living oak (Quercus spp.)
• Sweet chestnut (Castanea dentata)

Where it grows

• Appalachian Highlands
• Northeast
• Southeast Coastal Plain
• Upper Midwest / Great Lakes
• Texas
• Sierra Nevada & Nor-Cal
• UK & Ireland
• Western European Lowlands