Inonotus obliquus fruiting body remains on Black Birch.

Berlin MA part of Pisgah Mountain forest.
11/27/08

Found 2 snags with signs of the Inonotus obliquus fruiting body remains.  The first was a Black Birch which was about a foot in diameter with Chaga present.  This fruiting body was pretty much gone from the tree.  My guess that it fruited last year or even 2 years ago.  The second was on Black Birch that was only about 7" in diameter and there was no sign of a Chaga.  The fruiting body was pretty much gone from the tree with only a few pieces holding on to the trunk.  My guess that it fruited last year.
Daniel L. Lindner wrote and said that someone told him that Inonotus obliquus fruiting body is usually found on fallen trees.  I made a point of checking the broken off part of each birch and found no sign of fruiting body on either.  It seams to me that an oblique fruiting would have very little space on a fallen log where it could grow and live up to its name.  I will still keep checking fallen birch.

Black Birch snag about 7" in diameter and 8' high.  Showing a few remains of a fruiting body.

A closer look.

Close-up of pores.