We have mushrooms that grow on many of our trees and they are rock solid hard. ( actually they look just like those but I am not exactly sure what they are called ) Not all mushrooms are spongey soft. And yes it’s most likely mushroom fungus especially knowing it’s on a dead or dying tree. Mushrooms can calcify.
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Ah that’s interesting! I always thought mushrooms/fungus were soft 
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Generally speaking they normally are. I’ll try and get pics of the mushrooms on our trees since they look very similar and are rock hard also.
It is a bit weird.
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It’s obviously a bracket fungus of some sort, I suppose the fact that it’s dead is going to make it harder to id.
My son has a very comprehensive book on fungi in his room, I’ll ask for it when he gets up.
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@Azz If they are hard to the touch, then without being there I would guess Shelf Fungus. Or it could be Cap Fungus that has aged, but I would think my 1st guess would fit that photo.
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I would agree with LongDriver that they are very likely Shelf Fungus, and that they have become calcified.
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Fungus for sure,they possibly soften when picked.
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Thanks everyone - you learn something new everyday! I had no idea fungus could get so hard, and they look very much like the photo in @OldBloke’s post.
My next question is why do they calcify and what does that actually do? 
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Don’t touch them Azz…
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Why? I did 
Just in case it is some sort of dry rot, the spores can be easily spread. Best wash your hands.
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You may find fungi wings growing on your body! 
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If it kills the tree it’s not likely to be good for humans. There’s been a bit of this about and the council tends to chop down the tree if it happens. Otherwise branches weakened by disease can crack and fall on people etc. or it spreads to other trees.
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Because we need you here Azz…
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It rained all day so I never got out to take pictures of the mushrooms but they do look like shelf fungus. They aren’t considered edible but only due to their hardness however they are often ground up to use as teas. Apparently turkey tail mushrooms are a type of shelf fungus are definitely edible. They are even made into supplements.
Most shelf fungi are inedible because they are very tough . As a result, shelf fungi are ground into powder and used to make teas in herbal medicine. Another herbal shelf fungus is Turkey Tail, Trametes versicolor. One edible species is the sulfur shelf or chicken-of-the-woods, Laetiporus sulphureus.
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Thanks again everyone! 
I could do with some wings right about now Mags! 
Can you cook it? I wonder if it has similar health benefits to Turkey Tail mushrooms 
Possibly if it were fresh and was definitely an edible variety such as beefsteak fungus.
I wouldn’t want to take any chances whatsoever with fungi 
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Sorry I missed yours and @OldGreyFox’s posts earlier!
I didn’t know Turkey Tail mushrooms were hard as well (didn’t know any mushrooms were, lol!). I wonder whether Lion’s Mane mushrooms are too? I want to try those as well at some point…
I’ve been hearing lots of good things about them recently, such as Lion’s Mane:
Summary: Active compounds in the edible Lion’s Mane mushroom can help promote neurogenesis and enhance memory, a new study reports. Preclinical trials report the compound had a significant impact on neural growth and improved memory formation. Researchers say the compound could have clinical applications in treating and preventing neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Mushrooms Magnify Memory by Boosting Nerve Growth - Neuroscience News.
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I agree, playing with fire. I don’t mean human health but ecologically humans could wipe out entire species by disturbing them.