Nigel Cattlin / Giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus) at base of diseased Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) tree. Berkshire, England, UK. August.

Colin Varndell / Giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) fruiting at base of mature Beech (Fagus sylvatica) tree. Dorset, England, UK. October.

Colin Varndell / Fruiting body of giant Polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) Dorset, England, UK. August.

Dong Lei / Fungi (Meripilus giganteus) Meili Snow Mountain National Park, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Yunnan Province, China. July

Colin Varndell / Fruiting body of Giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus) fungus growing at the base of a mature beech tree. Dorset, UK October.

Philippe Clement / Giant polypore bracket fungus / Black-staining polypore (Meripilus giganteus / Polyporus giganteus) on tree-stump, Belgium, October.

Paul Hobson / Giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) on dead tree stump, Derbyshire, England, UK.

Paul Hobson / Giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) on dead tree stump, Derbyshire, England, UK.

Adrian Davies / Giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus) growing form the base of a Beech tree (Fagus sylvatica), Surrey, England, UK, September.

Adrian Davies / Giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus) growing form the base of a Beech tree (Fagus sylvatica), Surrey, England, UK, September.

Will Watson / Giant Polypore (Meripilus giganteus) growing amongst Ivy (Hedera helix), Llanerchaeron National Trust, Ceredigion, Wales, UK, August.

Will Watson / Giant Polypore (Meripilus giganteus) growing amongst Ivy (Hedera helix), Llanerchaeron National Trust, Ceredigion, Wales, UK, August.

Will Watson / Giant Polypore (Meripilus giganteus) growing amongst Ivy (Hedera helix), Llanerchaeron National Trust, Ceredigion, Wales, UK, August.

Robert Thompson / Giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus) Tomies Wood, Killarney National Park, County Kerry,Republic of Ireland, November 2012

Adrian Davies / Giant Polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) growing in clusters on woodland floor, UK, August

Adrian Davies / Giant Polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) growing on woodland floor, UK, August

Robert Thompson / Giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) growing on tree trunk, Tollymore Forest, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK, September

Philippe Clement / Giant polypore bracket fungus (Meripilus / Polyporus giganteus) growing from base of beech tree (Fagus sylvatica), Belgium

Philippe Clement / Giant polypore bracket fungus (Meripilus / Polyporus giganteus) growing from base of beech tree (Fagus sylvatica), Belgium

Philippe Clement / Giant polypore bracket fungus (Meripilus / Polyporus giganteus) close up, Belgium

Philippe Clement / Giant polypore bracket fungus (Meripilus / Polyporus giganteus) growing from base of beech tree (Fagus sylvatica), Belgium

Nigel Bean / Giant polypore bracket fungus {Polyporus giganteus} growing in association with Beech tree, UK

Nigel Bean / Giant polypore bracket fungus {Polyporus giganteus} growing in association with Beech tree. UK

Adrian Davies / Giant polypore fungus on beech. UK {Polyporus giganteus} UK

Philippe Clement / Giant polypore / Black-staining polypore (Meripilus giganteus) and Trametes fungi growing at base of tree trunk in autumnal forest, Flanders, Belgium. October.

Adrian Davies / Giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) on base of Beech (Fagus sylvatica) tree trunk in woodland, Surrey, UK. September.

Adrian Davies / Giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) on base of Beech (Fagus sylvatica) tree trunk in woodland, Surrey, UK. September.

Linda Pitkin / Giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) at base of tree trunk. Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve, Surrey, England, UK. October.

Linda Pitkin / Giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus), South Croydon, Surrey, England, September.

Linda Pitkin / Giant Polypore bracket fungus (Meripilus giganteus), at base of beech tree, Sheepleas SWT, Surrey, England, September.

Colin Varndell / Fruiting body of giant polypore fungus (Meripilus giganteus) Dorset, England, UK, September.