Albatrellus ovinus - Sheep Polypore

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

Family: Albatrellaceae

Seen from above these creamy white or grey-brown polypores, not known to be in Britain but common in some European countries, cold be mistaken for Wood Hedgehogs, Hydnum repandum. Often, however, the caps are so distorted that they look more like crumpled paper bags. A shepherd very with poor eyesight might possibly mistake them for sheep a long way off.

Some authorities believe that this edible mushroom may be mycorrhizal with spruces.

Identification Guide

Cap	7 to 18cm across, creamy white or pale grey; convex, soon flattening and becoming centrally depressed, distorted and lobed; margin wavy and usually remaining incurved; skin cracks when old or in very dry weather. Often several caps merge and become firmly conjoined.
Pores	White or creamy yellow; oval; tubes decurrent; 2 to 3 per mm.
Stem	Creamy white or light grey; 3 to 7cm tall, 1 to 3cm dia.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	No significant.
Habitat	In woods, often under conifers.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Fairly common in central and southern Europe.
Similar species	Albatrellus subrufescens is usually violet tinged on the cap surface, and it turns orange when bruised. Confident differentiation of these two very similar species requires microscopic examination of the spores.