·        Often called bracket fungi, shelf fungi, and conks

·        Fruitbodies with small, cylindric tubes on the underside of the cap

·        Spores are discharged through pores at the end of the tubes

·        Most grow on wood with a few found growing on soil or humus

·        Most are hard and woody, corky, or leathery

·        Unlike boletes the tube layer does not separate easily from the cap

·        Most are inedible – no known fatalities have occurred as a result of ingesting polypores