Monday, August 2, 2010

Dryad's Saddle Mushroom


Order: Polyporales
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Polyporus
Species: P. squamosus

Identifying Characteristics:

-This mushroom is commonly attached to dead logs or stumps at one point with a thick stem.

-the fruit body is 8–30 cm (3–12 in) across and up to 10 cm (4 in) thick. The body can be yellow to brown and has "squamules" or scales on its upper side. On the underside one can see the pores

-The stalk is thick and short, up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long

-Young specimens are soft but toughen with age.

Special Adaptations:

-They can be found alone, in clusters of two or three, or forming shelves

-It is particularly common on dead elm and is also found on living maple trees

-It plays an important role in woodlandecosystems by decomposing wood, usually elm, but is occasionally a parasite on living trees. Other tree hosts include ash, beech, horse chestnut, lime, maple, planetree, poplar, and willow

- its certainly not poisonous, it is generally not recognized as an edible mushroom unless the specimens are very young and tender.

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