Growth on a tree

[midlifecrisis31]

Hi everyone,

I saw a few of these on a tree the other day on property I'm looking to buy.  I can't tell what kind of tree it is either.  I'm in Upstate NY.  Is this what they call a conk?  Can I sell it and make millions?  Will it kill me if I try to burn it?  Do share...I'm curious what it is.  I only saw one tree infected with it.  And yes, this photo is sideways...sorry.



 

[timberking]

Spore producing fungi

[BradMarks]

Yes a conk, fungi....  Indicates rot, note the bole of the tree is "sucked in" above the conk.

[Ianab]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypore

Also called a Bracket or Shelf fungus. 
A section of that tree is dead and starting to rot, so be careful cutting it, it's likely hollow inside. 

They are common in older forests where trees are starting to die from old age. 

[bluthum]

A pic with better detail would make me more certain that was a shelf fungus and not something else. I don't think it's hurting the tree but more a sign of old slowly decaying tree.  I have some ash trees near by that have had bracket fungi for 40 years and the trees still live but are in slow decline.

[Clark]

Looks a whole lot like Phellinus on aspen.

Clark