If so, then maybe this is a young specimen of Meripilus sumstinei (Black Staining Polypore). Infested wood may be structurally weakened in a relatively short period of time. “Maitake ” is the Japanese name for Grifola frondosa. Like B. berkeleyi, the morphology of M. sumstinei can take many forms, anywhere between the small 'leafletes' of Grifola frondosa to the large fronds of B. berkeleyi. (Edible) Berkeley’s polypore (Bondarzewia berkeleyi) is thick-fleshed and cream-colored. Featuring photos and mycology lessons by Dianna Smith and articles by Bill Bakaitis, FUNGIKINGDOM.net                                      FUNGIPHOTOS.net, EDIBLE MUSHROOMS & POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES, PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING THE IDENTIFICATION OF MUSHROOMS By Bill Bakaitis, Psycological Factors in the Identification of Mushrooms Part Two: Memory, Meaning, Symbols, Language & Reality, PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF MUSHROOMS:PART III: IS DNA ANALYSIS THE ANSWER? If you’ve ever eaten maitake mushrooms, you’ve eaten Hen of the Woods (aka Grifola frondosa). Colonisation strategy Gains entry via injuries to large roots.. In that it acts both as a saprobe and as a parasite, it is somewhat atypical. But, if it is this species, then this one is unusual. Meripilus giganteus is a European species.Â. Summary 2 Meripilus sumstinei, commonly known as the giant polypore or the black-staining polypore, is a species of fungus in the family Meripilaceae.Originally described in 1905 by William Alphonso Murrill as Grifola sumstinei, it was transferred to Meripilus in 1988. Beautiful finds! DIAGNOSIS AT A DISTANCE: Issues raised by a recent case involving GI Distress and life threatening symptoms attributed to 'edible' mushrooms. . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Young specimen, just saw tonight. References: BBF 385, 397. Vouchered Fungi; All Collected Species; Precipitation; Events Maitake is a Japanese term for dancing mushroom. Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) (white with pink tones) Spongipellis pachyodon Trichaptum biforme Tyromyces chioneus. 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. All these not widespread varieties outwardly strongly resemble Grifola frondosa and belong to the category of edible mushrooms, but need … In advanced stages of decay, wood attacked by brown rot becomes friable and splits appear across the grain giving the wood a "checkerboard" appearance. English common names include hen-of-the-woods (not to be confused with chicken-of-the-woods, which it does not closely resemble), sheep’s head, and ram’s head, but many English speakers call it Maitake. Maitake (Grifola frondosa) Also known as Hen of the Woods, Rams Head, Sheep's Head, Cloud Mushroom, Dancing Mushroom Maitake (my-tah-keh) is the Japanese name for the edible fungus Grifola frondosa. Bni 423. Home; Experts; Research. Giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus) Common host(s) Most often on Beech, but occasionally on other broadleaved trees. Can get better pics tomorrow if the lighting in pics is not sufficient. Enjoy! HEN OF THE WOODS (also known as MAITAKE, RAMSHEAD or SHEEPSHEAD MUSHROOM) Scientific name: Grifola frondosa The Maitake mushroom (it has several "common" names including Hen of the Woods, Ram's Head and Sheep's Head, and here we shall use them interchangeably) is one of the best-known of all edible wild mushrooms, and it's also the one that offers the biggest harvests in … Bondarzewia berkeleyi or "Berkeley's polypore" is often confused with M. giganteus (or M. sumstinei) in eastern North America but can be distinguished by its lack of black-bruising and much larger pores. Gray (1821) Grifola frondosa goes by many different common names: "hen of the woods," "ram’s head," "sheep’s head," and in Japan it is known as "maitake" or "dancing mushroom." Bill Bakaitis Feb 2010, On Finding Volvariella speciosa: A Meditation(Thoughts of a Naturalist in a Technological Era)(First published in Mushroom the Journal, Fall 2005). Boletus subvelutipes complex Tylopilus felleus. Grifola frondosa photo courtesy of MushroomObserver.org, 2008, MushroomObserver.org. Trametes versicolor (Turkey-tail)…..Eaten as a food in the Amazon and parts of Asia. Inonotus spp. Grifola frondosa goes by many names although the most common would be maitake mushrooms. The polypore fungus Grifola frondosa is similar in overall appearance, but may be distinguished by its more greyish cap, and larger pores. by Michael Kuo. E&S 303. G. frondosa, they can appear year after year in the same location.  This polypore, however, has larger lobed caps and smaller pores than Grifola frondosa.  It stains black on handling. Hen of the Woods is a parasitic mushroom that will live and fruit for many years while its host tree is still alive (as well as after it dies), unlike most other parasitic (and saprobic) fungi. Grifola Frondosa mushrooms have properties that boost the immune system, are anti-cancer, antiviral, antidiabetic, reduce cholesterol, treat hypertension, ... (Meripilus sumstinei) blackens when bruised or handled. Hen of the Woods is a polypore, which means that its undersides have pores, not gills. Eastern cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis spatulata) has ribbonlike folds. Boletes. . for the love of fungi :: hunting, foraging, cultivation, images( mycoporn ), research, questions & general … The black-staining polypore grows in large, circular clusters of many fleshy, grayish yellow, fan-shaped caps, which bruise black when cut or touched. Meripilus sumstinei Meripilus sumstinei. Remember that … Grifola frondosa? Found today on a dead tree, mixed forest, New Jersey.I'm new to mushroom identification and foraging so I'd appreciate any help! This type mushroom takes on variable forms. 287k members in the mycology community. Lookalikes: Black-staining polypore (Meripilus sumstinei) blackens when bruised or handled. Grifola frondosa (Hen of the Woods) Grifola frondosa (Hen of the Woods) Grifola frondosa (Hen of the Woods) Grifola frondosa (Hen of the Woods) Ceriporia spissa: ... Meripilus sumstinei (Black Stain Polypore) Meripilus sumstinei (Black Stain Polypore) Meripilus sumstinei (Black Stain Polypore) Legend has it that these mushrooms were once so rare that on finding them one would dance with joy hence the name. polypore black-colored or Meripilus sumstinei, having large hats with a black border and flesh, darkening from touch. Uses . Form at root/trunk interface or on large roots radiating out from the trunk. by Michael Kuo. I doubt this mushroom is Laetiporus (Chicken) or Grifola … Grifola frondosa Meripilaceae J F M A M J J A S O N D +--- --+ +++ +-- ID: Rosette of flattened caps w/ white/creamy-white pores when fresh. Or meripilus sumstinei? Bin 281. The polypore fungus Grifola frondosa is similar in overall appearance but may be distinguished by its more greyish cap, and larger pores. Thank you! Grifola frondosa has no poisonous look-alikes, although Meripilus_sumstinei “Black staining polypore” has similar features but much larger, wider caps that bruise and turn black with time. Missouri Mycological Society. Polyporus squamosus (Dryad’s Saddle)…..A very good edible in the early spring – before it matures and becomes too tough to eat. Both Grifola frondosa and Meripilus sumsteinei grow at the base of trees and cause a white rot. Grifolas grow from a central stalk, in large clusters of small petals. LATE BLIGHT - PHYTOPHTHORA INFESTANS - SWEEPS THROUGH THE NORTHEAST, FINDING LOTS OF MORELS IS NOT NECESSARILY A GOOD THING, MORELS FROM THE APPLE ORCHARDS:A LOOK AT SOME TOXINS, SOME RISKS,AND NEED FOR SPECIFIC RESEARCH. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, for the love of fungi :: hunting, foraging, cultivation, images( mycoporn ), research, questions & general discussion, Press J to jump to the feed. It is found in North America, where it grows in large clumps on the ground around the base of oak trees and tree stumps. Though often confused with Grifola frondosa, both are choice edibles. Meripilus sumstinei: Complete description at MushroomExpert.Com: INDIANA MUSHROOMS. The types of wood destroying fungi encountered by pest management professionals and homeowners fall into two basic categories: brown rot and white rot. Cap brownish-gray, dull dark brown in age, matted and ... (Meripilus sumstinei) is similar, but all parts bruise blackish. Grifola frondosa. The oak bracket (Inonotus quercus) and … Another thing to consider is Abortiporus biennis. Maitake mushrooms (Grifola Frondosa), ram’s head, sheep’s head or hen-of-the-woods are polypore types of fungi (non-gilled mushrooms) that are fully edible and grow perennially in the same regions for a few years in a row.Their name “Maitake” means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese and needless to say, they are quite popular in Japan and other Asian regions. Grifola frondosa, sometimes called the "hen of the woods" and the "maitake," is a soft-fleshed polypore recognized by its smoky brown, wavy caps, which are organized in large clusters of rosettes arising from a single, branched stem structure. Likely weakly parasitic as well as sabropic. . The types of wood destroying fungi encountered by pest management professionals and homeowners fall into two basic categories: Brown rot commonly attacks softwoods turning the wood dark brown. Definitely the former. Grifola frondosa [ Basidiomycota > Polyporales > Grifolaceae > Grifola . Symptoms Annual large, clustered layers of pale brown, tan or pink/orange/brown growths up to 1m across. But the species is a close look-alike for Grifola frondosa (maitake or hen-of-the-woods), a choice edible famed for its medicinal value. Meripilus sumstinei (Black Staining Polypore)…..Only edible when very young, but it has a good texture and flavor then. It grows on … Whatever you call it, this meaty bracket fungus has excellent taste and substance. Both Grifola frondosa and Meripilus sumsteinei grow at the base of trees and cause a white rot.  Likely weakly parasitic as well as sabropic. I bet they smell pretty good! I look forward to labor day when the maitake begin to appear in Maine. It grows at the base of deciduous hardwoods, especially oak, and typically appears in late summer through early autumn. This leaves the impression that dry wood has rotted (dry rot) but in reality it is an old infestation of brown rot. Growing in grass, about 10 feet from edge of woods (hardwoods - mostly oak). Meripilus is principally a root rot pathogen and while it’s classified as causing a white rot, studies have shown the patterns of decay are very diverse. It occurs most prolifically in the northeastern regions of the United States, but has been found as far west as Idaho. M. sumstinei is edible, but few people enjoy it.If it has medicinal value, that value is yet to be researched or described. BBH 257. K&M 185. Bondarzewia berkeleyi or "Berkeley's polypore" is often confused with M. giganteus (or M. sumstinei) in eastern North America but can be distinguished by its lack of black-bruising and much larger pores. POLYPORE MUSHROOMS: The large fronds are a yellow-brown color and the white pore surface bruises black; compare to Grifola frondosa. Meripilus sumstinei is a large, multi-capped polypore that is interesting largely because it tends to be mixed up with other species. Much like a head of cauliflower. I'm so excited, there were six around the tree! Commonly known as Sheep’s Head, Hen of the Woods, or Maitake, Grifola frondosa is an edible species that grows at the foot of trees, particularly oak trees, in clusters of gray-brown caps which are generally curled or contorted in some manner and originate from a single branched stem structure (1), (2), (4). . Meripilus sumstinei (black-staining polypore) Meripilus is found on a variety of deciduous hardwoods and some conifers, but primarily targets oaks in southern New England. Berkeley’s polypore (Bondarzewia berkeleyi) is thick-fleshed and cream-colored. TheMountainMan posted a topic in Identifying Mushrooms. Once brown rot has extracted all of the nutrients from the wood the wood may become dry and powdery. Thumbnail images link to larger images and text (scientific names) link to profiles. Hen Of The Woods / Maitake (Grifola frondosa) The Maitake mushroom (also known as Sheep’s Head or Hen Of The Woods) is a choice edible and medicinal that always demands a good hunt. Meripilus sumstinei [ Basidiomycetes > Polyporales > Meripilaceae > Meripilus . (Edible) [citation needed] Edible species which look similar to Grifola frondosa include Meripilus sumstinei (which stains black), Sparassis spathulata and Laetiporus sulphureus, another edible bracket fungus that is commonly called chicken of the woods or "sulphur shelf". Grifola frondosa Laetiporus cincinnatus Lenzites betulina Meripilus sumstinei Oligoporus caesius Neofavolus alveolaris Piptoporus betulinus Poria sp.