Beefsteak Polypore

The cap is 7–30 centimetres (3–12 in) wide and 2–6 cm (3⁄4–2+1⁄4 in) thick. Its shape resembles a large tongue and it is rough-surfaced. It is pinkish-red when young, darkening to reddish-brown with age. The stem, if present, is up to 5 cm (2 in) long and 4 cm wide. The hymenium is creamy-white. The flesh bleeds a dull red juice when cut, which can cause stains. The cut flesh itself resembles meat. It is sour in taste. The spores are pink and the spore print pinkish.

Similar species. Lookalikes include Pseudofistulina radicata, Amylocystis lapponica, Ischnoderma resinosum, Leptoporus mollis, and Rhodofomes cajanderi.

The species is commonly seen in Britain and the rest of Europe from July to October, but can also be found in North America, Australia, North Africa, and Southern Africa. It is fairly common, and can often be found on oaks and sweet chestnut, from August to the end of autumn, on either living or dead wood. It has a tendency to impart a reddish-brown stain to the living wood of oaks, creating a desirable timber type. In Australia, it can be found growing from wounds on Eucalyptus trees. It causes a brown rot on the trees which it infects.

It is edible and considered "reminiscent of raw meat" in texture by some, although older specimens should be soaked overnight, as their juice can cause gastric upset. It does not tend to preserve well.

The genus name is a diminutive of the Latin word fistula and means "small tube", whilst the species name hepatica means "liver-like", referring to the consistency of the flesh.