Grifolia frondosa-hen of the woods. Heart rot present in tree. Some folks interpret that datum to indicate tree is not healthy. Nothing could be further from the truth-trees easily going on with their lives despite extensive heartwood rot. But it can and often does indicate at least some degree of compromised integrity. Mushroom, when young and not overly tough, is considered a delicacy as well as one holding significant medicinal/health attributes. Maitake in Japan.

+oM

with that lean.. would it miss the house.. or hit the house .. if it decided to fall over in a wind storm???

ken

ps: i wouldn't eat things on the advice of an arborist ... unless i was standing in front of him.. and he ate them first ... lol .. if you are interested in grazing native shrooms.. i suggest you join a local club ... and learn in person ...

Thanks for the answers, The tree is leaning away from the house, we often get 70mph winds here, I'm on a bluff, its not the leaning ones that fall, its the straight ones, no kidding I have never seen a leaning one fall during a storm, even when I loved in South Alabama and one was on a 40 degree angle leaning toward the the house, with roots hanging free in a gully away from the house and the wind blowing it toward the house and the tree at least 4ft in diameter. Although along the road and in the woods hundreds fell all straight ones. I think the leaning ones have better roots toward the lean.