Meripilus giganteus

[ Basidiomycetes > Polyporales > Meripilaceae > Meripilus . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

With similar mushrooms known as the "Hen of the Woods" and the "Chicken of the Woods," I think Meripilus giganteus should be known as the "Rooster of the Woods," just to add to the confusion--which is already fairly rampant, to judge from the hen-chicken, chicken-hen e-mails I receive confusing the two officially named-for-fowl mushrooms.

Actually, the Chicken of the Woods isn't very similar to Meripilus giganteus in appearance (though I have heard mycological rumors that it is similar, genetically), since it is bright yellow or orange. The Hen of the Woods, however, is often mistaken for the "Rooster," since both species are brownish by maturity and both fruit near the bases of hardwoods in large clusters. But while the Hen of the Woods has small caps and a pore surface that is initially lavender gray, Meripilus giganteus has larger caps and its pore surface, when young, is pure white. Additionally, Meripilus giganteus bruises and discolors black--a feature not shared by the Hen.

Meripilus giganteus is recommended by many field guides as a good edible, but I have not tried it. If you do, use caution. Like many polypores, it is one of those species for which "allergies" in some individuals are reported. Try only a bite or two if you have never eaten it before--and, if things go well, the sturdy mushrooms will definitely last a day or two in the refrigerator for further consumption.

Description:

Ecology: Parasitic on living hardwoods (also reported on Douglas-Fir) and saprobic on the dead wood of hardwoods; causing a white rot; growing 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, and occasionally reported in the west.

Fruiting Body: Cluster up to 30 cm broad or more; individual caps 5-20 cm across, fan-shaped, smooth, whitish becoming brownish with age, often radially streaked and concentrically zoned; the margin thin, bruising black; pore surface whitish, becoming dirty tan, bruising black when fresh; pores small (3-5 per mm); tubes to 1 cm deep; stem whitish, tough, short, usually lateral; flesh white and fibrous.

Taste: Mild; odor mild.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 6-7 x 4.5-6 µ; smooth; broadly elliptical.

REFERENCES: (Fries, 1821) Karsten, 1882. (Overholts, 1953; Smith & Weber, 1985; Gilbertson & Ryvarden, 1987; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992.)

Polyporus giganteus is a former name.

Further Online Information:

Meripilus giganteus at Roger's Mushrooms
Meripilus giganteus at Fungi of Poland

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2004, November). Meripilus giganteus. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/meripilus_giganteus.html