Hen of the Woods

Grifola frondosa

''Grifola frondosa'' is a polypore mushroom that grows at the base of trees, particularly oaks. Also known as hen-of-the-woods, ''maitake'', ram's head or sheep's head. It is typically found in late summer to early autumn. It is native to China, Europe, and North America.
Hen-of-the-woods - Grifola frondosa I found two hens growing at the base of an oak tree. The fruiting bodies were 15 - 30 cm wide and consisted of multiple caps in a rosette that shared a stem-like structure. Habitat: Growing at the base of an oak (Quercus sp.) tree in a mostly deciduous forest. I find them growing at the base of this same tree every autumn. https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67070/hen-of-the-woods_-_grifola_frondosa.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67069/hen-of-the-woods_-_grifola_frondosa.html https://www.jungledragon.com/image/67068/hen-of-the-woods_-_grifola_frondosa.html Fall,Geotagged,Grifola frondosa,Hen-of-the-woods,United States,fungus,grifola,mushroom

Appearance

Like the sulphur shelf mushroom, ''G. frondosa'' is a perennial fungus that often grows in the same place for a number of years in succession. It occurs most prolifically in the northeastern regions of the United States, but has been found as far west as Idaho.

''G. frondosa'' grows from an underground tuber-like structure known as a sclerotium, about the size of a potato. The fruiting body, occurring as large as 100 centimetres, rarely 150 cm, is a cluster consisting of multiple grayish-brown caps which are often curled or spoon-shaped, with wavy margins and 2–10 cm broad.

The undersurface of each cap bears about one to three pores per millimeter, with the tubes rarely deeper than 3 mm. The milky-white stipe has a branchy structure and becomes tough as the mushroom matures.
Hen of the Woods 3 pound hen growing at the base of a decaying oak stump. Geotagged,Grifola frondosa,Hen of the Woods,United States

Uses

Maitake has been consumed for centuries in China and Japan where it is one of the major culinary mushrooms. The mushroom is used in many Japanese dishes, such as ''nabemono''. The softer caps must be thoroughly cooked.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomFungi
DivisionBasidiomycota
ClassAgaricomycetes
OrderPolyporales
FamilyMeripilaceae
GenusGrifola
Species
Photographed in
Belgium
United States of America