I think I found a petrified mushroom

[PLASTIC]

Me and my wife found this rockhounding together in some railroad tracks. It looks like a mushroom cap and I've done some research and I am 80% confident it is a mushroom cap, but at the same time I'm a little doubtful being that mushrooms are so fragile. What would a mushroom have to over come and the middle, things would have to be just right I'm assuming to become petrified.

 

 

[grandpa]

I agree that it is petrified; but not a mushroom.  Rather it looks like a nice piece of petrified palm wood.

[JohnJ]

I am inclined to agree with @grandpa.  Which state / region did you find it?

[DPS Ammonite]

We need to have the location, age and geological formation that you found it in. 

 

I think that I see branching of the tube structures and cross pieces; if so then not palm. Palm fibers also tend to be more parallel unlike the fan-like arrangement in the bottom photo. Branching suggests coral like Syringopora.

Edited October 29, 2021 by DPS Ammonite

[grandpa]

1 hour ago, DPS Ammonite said:

 

I think that I see branching of the tube structures and cross pieces; if so then not palm.

Excellent point.  I missed that detail.  "Ready, fire, aim" on my part.

[Ludwigia]

I'm inclined to agree with DPS. As you already seem to surmise, petrified mushrooms are an extremely rare occurrence which can only happen under very special circumstances.

[TqB]

I agree it looks spot on for Syringopora.