– Dense, tufted, tongue-shaped caps branching from a thick stem.
– Caps light gray-brown to dark black-brown.
– Tubes and pores white, decurrent, do not darken when bruised.
– The entire mushroom is soft, large, and heavy.
– Grows at the base of old oaks.
Polypores
Hen of the Woods
Grifola frondosa
NT
Near threatened
Edible
6 images
Characteristics
Ecology
Grows at the base of old, damaged, dead, or living oaks (Quercus).
Notes
Edible but not recommended for consumption due to its rarity, and it is advisable to leave it in its habitat.
Similar species
It can be confused with Meripilus giganteus, which has larger caps and tubes that darken when bruised and upon drying.
