Hoof Fungus Taken at Strathclyde Park on 16th August 2023 using Nikon D500 with Sigma 600 mm zoom lens. Taken at Portmoak Moss on 14th April 2019 using Nikon D500 with Sigma 600 mm zoom lens.  Hoof Fungus. Species : Order: Family: Local names: Fomes fomentarius. Polyporales. Polyporaceae. Tinder Fungus, Tinder Conk Habitat: Size: Colour: Feature: Edibility In northern areas, it is most common on birch, while, in the south, beech is more typical. In the Mediterranean,  oak is the typical host. The species has also been known to grow upon maple, cherry, hickory, lime tree, poplar, willow tree  poplalder, hornbeam, sycamore, and even, exceptionally, softwoods, such as conifers. 5 - 45 cms across. From Grey to Black, mostly Brown Penetrates the wood of trees through damaged bark or broken branches, causing rot in the host. Though inedible, F. fomentarius has traditionally seen use as the main ingredient of amadou, a material used primarily as tinder, but also used to make clothing and other items. When picking any fungus for consumption, caution should be                                                   exercised at all times.