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Polyporus squamosus |
Polyporus squamosus, commonly referred to as Dryad's Saddle, grows in overlapping clusters and tiers on broad-leaved trees. The fruit bodies appear in summer and autumn. |
| Sycamore, willow, poplar and walnut trees are all commonly
attacked by this impressively large and attractive fungus, which is
commonly referred to as Dryad's saddle. (A dryad is a mythical
wood-nymph.)
Insects quickly devour these large brackets, and in warm weather they can decay from full splendour to almost nothing in just a few days. The outer edges of young caps are edible and tender, but mature caps have tough flesh - especially near to the stipe. |
Description |
Individual caps grow to between 10 and 60 cm
in diameter and are 5 to 50 mm thick. Often in tiers, the caps are
attached to the host tree by a very short lateral (occasionally eccentric
but not quite lateral) stipe that darkens towards the base.
Beneath the yellow to tan upper surface, the cap flesh is white and tough. |
Tubes and Pores |
Irregularly oval tubes 5 to 10 mm deep terminate in irregular, angular pores that are white at first but turn cream as the fruiting body matures. The tubes run decurrently on to the short stem. |
Spores |
White. |
Odour/taste |
Floury odour and taste. |
Habitat |
Parasitic on broad-leaf trees. |
Season |
Spring to late summer or early autumn. |
Occurrence |
Common. |
Similar species |
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