Greetings fellow Foxies,
In the fungus world, punks are large showy, bracket sporophores (fungal fruiting bodies) that usually occur on their own on the upper trunks of large eucalypts. You can download factsheets on Laetiporus portentosus /white punk and Piptoporus australiensis/curry punk (and other fungi) on this great DBCA website. These fungi cause heartwood rot and may occur on live or dead trees.
In the fungus world, punks are large showy, bracket sporophores (fungal fruiting bodies) that usually occur on their own on the upper trunks of large eucalypts. You can download factsheets on Laetiporus portentosus /white punk and Piptoporus australiensis/curry punk (and other fungi) on this great DBCA website. These fungi cause heartwood rot and may occur on live or dead trees.
White punk forms large pale to light brown, spongy brackets, often up to 30cm diameter. The underside is a pore layer, light yellow to citrus yellow in colour. Images show a range of colours and forms that I have encountered. The brackets form in late autumn. They are long-lasting, often looking fresh for several months.
Over spring and early summer, they dry out and become quite light with a chalky texture. They are usually seen in this state at the foot of the tree on which they were growing. If conditions are right, a new bracket will develop in the same place the following autumn.
Over spring and early summer, they dry out and become quite light with a chalky texture. They are usually seen in this state at the foot of the tree on which they were growing. If conditions are right, a new bracket will develop in the same place the following autumn.
 Fresh punk note drops on undersurface |  White punk that has split in hot weather |  Spore tubes on underside |
Curry punk or beefsteak fungus
Curry punks are similar size, but less common. When fresh the bracket is bright orange, smooth or greasy on the upper surface, with a layer of pores on the underside.
The flesh is rubbery, but very juicy making the brackets quite heavy. Curry punk juice is a good dye and will stain your skin or clothing yellow.
Brackets persist for some months, but rain tends to wash them out and they fade to a whitish colour as they age. When dry they have a distinctive curry odour, hence the common name of curry punk.
Note : This may be a beefsteak fungus Fistulina hepatica.
Curry punks are similar size, but less common. When fresh the bracket is bright orange, smooth or greasy on the upper surface, with a layer of pores on the underside.
The flesh is rubbery, but very juicy making the brackets quite heavy. Curry punk juice is a good dye and will stain your skin or clothing yellow.
Brackets persist for some months, but rain tends to wash them out and they fade to a whitish colour as they age. When dry they have a distinctive curry odour, hence the common name of curry punk.
Note : This may be a beefsteak fungus Fistulina hepatica.
 Tapeigaster sun fly | Punk fungi attract Tapeigaster species fungus flies called sun flies, which can be entertaining. Male sun flies are feisty. A first arrival will vigously defend its punk against other males for the right to mate with females. They are very persistent and stand their ground against humans as well. Impregnated female flies lay eggs in the punk, which hatch to maggots that thoroughly bore it out to leave a chalky sponge-like shell. |
 Two males competing for the white punk |  Fun and games |  White punk after the flies have finshed |
White punk shells were used by Noongars to transport fire. I did an experiment and discovered that they are ideal for this purpose. A lit punk barely smoulders when unattended. but ignites when blown.
 Chunk of spongy white punk |  Smoulders when lit |  Blowing makes it ignite |
I understood that curry punks aged similarly to white punks until I found what I thought was an old and an ancient curry punk on a dead marri. Unlike white punks the sporophore was woody.
 Aged and ancient curry punk or beefsteak fungus |  Undersurface |  Cross section showing woody layers |
Fomitipora robusta Fomitiporia robusta/woody layered bracket fungus has a smaller layered woody bracket, which is common on rock sheoaks. I suspect that it is spread by borers, which with the fungus, commonly cause smaller sheoaks to snap off mid-trunk.