Albatrellus ellisii
This green and yellow furry fellow is found hiding flamboyantly in the duff and moss of full canopy forests in northern Idaho and northwestern Montana. It showed up on a taste test once and did not fare well.

Boletopsis, aka Albatrellus leucomelea
This uncommon find is a truly unique fungus. It has a black, or actually very dark purple mushroom is a polypore that looks like a Bolete, due to its usually central stem. It is edible and eaten by insects and humans, sometimes simultaneously. The flesh darkens when handled and is slightly bitter. I liked it, and the less crispy juicy pieces were better. I did soak it in brine before I ate it. Locally, it is found in mixed conifers in western Montana and northern Idaho.

 

Echinodontium tinctorium
This woody toothy conk is known also as the Indian Paint Fungus. It was pounded with bear grease to make a paint pigment that still colors rawhide centuries later. It is found on several sorts of older conifers, and considered a tree (timber) pathogen.

Fomes fomentarius

Ganoderma oregonense
In the group of shiny Ganodermas collectively refered to as ReiShi, this light-fleshed annual also enjoys a reputation as an immune stimulant. Note photos elsewhere of Ganoderma cultivation in Japan.

Inonotus tomentosus
This common inhabitant of the forest floor grows right through surrounding leaves and branches. It has a distinctive orange flesh tone.

Phaeolus schweinitzii
Also called the Dyers Polypore, this mushroom will produce a dye when prepared with different mordants. As food it doesn't pass the chewability test. It is a root rot, and considered a pathogen, although its endemic presence in PNW forests implies a kinder term might better be applied.

Piptoporus betulina
This is the birch polypore, found with Utzi the Alps Ice Man. We know now that he used it as a deworming medicine. Its common teardrop shaped fruiting bodies decorate birch trees across the north country. A bit too chewy for culinary purposes.

Polyporus arcularius
This is totally fleshy and has a central stipe, but here it is. This is what the Polypore Family has come to? A bunch of central-stiped often terrestrial white spored wood decomposers!  Yes, liberated from centuries of domination by conks, the True Polypores have emerged from their stereotype as "those woody wood decomposers" to show their soft fleshy side. Now I suppose you want to know if you can eat it, right? Always the stomach rumbling!

Polyporus elegans
The black-footed polypore always has a black central stipe, thus its common name. This looks much like P. badius only smaller, whiter, and woodier. P. elegans tends to live in the duff, while P. badius is at home on a barkless log.

Jahnoporus hirtus
This delightful iodine flavored polypore looks something like an Albatrellus, and has a similar fleshiness. One bite will set you right, you will never forget this mushroom, ever!  YOW!

Pycnoporus albolueus
This crusty polypore can be found on logs occasionally in the fall. This is a rather fresh and lovely specimen. The faded colors of dried specimens caused it to receive its inappropriate Latin species name. Never yet considered food.

Pycnoporus cinnabarinus
This fine red polypore is immediately recognizable by its bright color. It is always round with a smooth margin, and quite woody. In its young stages I understand someone mistook it for a baby sulfur shelf and I'm sure they were sadly disappointed. People do decorate with them, and even make jewelry.

Spongiporus leucospongia
This amazing snowmelt mushroom grows under melting snowbanks on the sides of logs, using its insulative foam cap to keep warm. There are dozens of species of snowmelt mushrooms in Montana.