Grifola frondosa: The Hen of the Woods

[ Basidiomycetes > Polyporales > Meripilaceae > Grifola . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

The "Hen of the Woods" is easily recognized by its smoky brown, wavy caps, organized in large clusters of rosettes arising from a single, branched stem structure. It is usually found near the bases of hardwood stumps, and occasionally on living hardwoods.

Description:

Ecology: Parasitic on hardwoods and conifers; possibly saprobic on decaying wood; causing a white butt rot; fruiting in large clusters of rosettes near the bases of trees; often reappearing in the same place in subsequent years; summer and fall; widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains, rare in the west.

Fruiting Body: Cluster 15-60 cm broad or more; individual caps 2-10 cm, fan-shaped, gray-brown (often with concentric zones), with wavy margins; pore surface lavender gray when young, becoming dirty whitish to yellowish, running down the stem(s); stem branches smooth, white, tough, usually lateral.

Flesh: Firm; white; tough.

Taste: Mild; odor mild.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 5-7 x 3.5-5 µ; smooth; broadly elliptical.

REFERENCES: (Fries, 1821) S. F. Gray, 1821. (Overholts, 1953; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981; Arora, 1986; Gilbertson & Ryvarden, 1986; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Roody, 2003.) Herb. Kuo 10070305.

Further Online Information:

Grifola frondosa at Roger's Mushrooms
Grifola frondosa at Fungi of Poland

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2004, November). Grifola frondosa: The hen of the woods. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/grifola_frondosa.html