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Tag Archives: Polyporus squamosus

Humongous fungus

05 Friday Aug 2022

Posted by sconzani in fungi

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Tags

bracket fungi, British fungi, Dryad's saddle, fungus, Polyporus squamosus, summer fungus

During Monday’s local meander I was hugely surprised to spot this humongous fungus, though I shouldn’t have been. Dryad’s saddle (Polyporus squamosus) is actually one of the first bracket fungi to appear each year, often sprouting its saddle-shaped ledges during the summer months when you’d least expect fungi to appear. This one was in a shady woodland, in an area less affected by the scorching sun that’s parched much of the land around here, so it was certainly a much more fungi-friendly location.

220805 dryads saddle

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272/365 A polypore

29 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by sconzani in autumn, fungi, nature

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

British fungi, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Dryad's saddle, polypore fungus, Polyporus squamosus

Sadly, between one visit to Cosmeston and the next this spectacular fungus had almost been obliterated.

190929 polypore (1)

I think it’s a specimen of Polyporus squamosus, also known as Dryad’s saddle, which can grow to 60cm across, usually on the wood of deciduous trees, sometimes singly, occasionally in limited layers.

190929 polypore (2)

This one had been munched on top, probably by a slug or snail, but I imagine its downfall came at human hands, or feet, as it was growing in an area of woodland that is often frequented by children. A shame, as I was looking forward to following its growth.

190929 polypore (3)

Nibbled area top left

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Dryad’s Saddle

16 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by sconzani in fungi, nature

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

dryad, Dryad's saddle, fungus, mushroom, Polyporus squamosus

I used to think fungi only appeared in the autumn but I was wrong. I’ve found these three examples of Dryad’s Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) in the past two weeks at three different locations. It’s an edible fungus so I won’t disclose the locations, as the modern trend of foraging all edible fungi can also put some fungi in danger of being over-collected. I prefer just to take photos and leave the fungi to the critters that undoubtedly enjoy it.

160616 dryads saddle (1)

Another common name for this fungus is Pheasant’s back mushroom – as the name implies, the pretty brown colour patterns on the fungus are similar to those seen on the back of a pheasant. The scientific name also refers partly to this patterning (squamosus means scaly), and polyporus means ‘having many pores’ – this is not a gilled mushroom like those you buy at the supermarket; instead, it has a myriad of tiny tubes from which the spores are dispersed.

160616 dryads saddle (3)

The name Dryad’s saddle must have come from someone with a good imagination. In Greek mythology, dryads were tree spirits or nymphs, and the shape of some these fungi does indeed resemble a saddle so, perhaps, when we’re not looking, the dryads emerge from their trees for a gallop around the woodland!

160616 dryads saddle (2)

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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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