Dryad's Saddle, also known as Pheasant's Back and Hawk's Wing, is a polypore-like bracket mushroom. It fruits on dying or dead hardwood trees. Dryad's Saddle is easily distinguishable by the cap's stylish light and dark brown patterns. They look like finely drawn scales or the back of a brown-feathered bird. Dryad's saddle is an annual [6] mushroom commonly found attached to dead logs and stumps or on living hardwood trees at one point with a thick stem. Generally, the fruit body is round and between 8-30 centimetres (3-12 inches) 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.
Species Dryad's Saddle Mushroom
One of the most underrated mushrooms, the Dryad's saddle ( Cerioporus squamosus, formerly known as Polyporus squamosus) is an edible mushroom with a pattern on the top of the cap that resembles pheasant feathers, hence the common name pheasant back. Pheasant tail mushrooms and saddle mushroom are two other common names. Dryad's saddle, also known as pheasant's back, is a large, scaled cap mushroom that can decay dead trees and the sapwood of living trees. The fruiting body ranges from 3-18 inches across and can get quite thick with a yellow/brown body and a scale pattern on the top. The fruiting body is tanish/brown on top and cream on the bottom. Pheasant back mushrooms (Cerioporus squamosus), also commonly known as Dryad's Saddle, are a common edible mushroom that's easy to identify. They used to go by the Latin name Polyporus squamosus, so you might find them in old field guides under that name as well. How to Cook a Perfect Pheasant Back / Dryad's Saddle Mushroom — Font and Flora Wild Southern Food and Typography The flavor of this mushroom is absolutely beautiful! It tastes somewhere between pork and chicken, with that hint of nuttiness that mushrooms often have.
The dryad saddle mushroom, polyporus squamosus
The Dryad's Saddle Mushroom is high in protein and fiber, and it also contains important vitamins and minerals like potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin B12. It's also a great source of antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from free radical damage. The dryad's saddle ( Cerioporus squamosus, formerly known as Polyporus squamosus ), and referred to as the pheasant's back or pheasant back mushroom, or hawk's wing, is a widespread edible wild fungi that is easy to spot beginning in mid to late April and continuing through June. The other common name, dryad's saddle, refers to the shape, which suggests a seat for a tree spirit (a dryad). It is also sometimes referred to as "Hawks Wing Mushroom". Edible Scientific Name Polyporus squamosus Family Polyporaceae Description Large, fleshy, scaly, yellowish tan bracket fungus; large, yellowish white pores; short stalk; smells like watermelon rind. Grows singly or in layers, on living or dead deciduous wood. May-October. Cap circular to fan-shaped; yellowish tan; covered with dark, hairy scales.
Dryad’s Saddle Edibility, Identification, Distribution Galloway
Dryad's Saddle, also commonly known as Pheasant Back, is a large bracket mushroom that grows on dead or dying hardwood trees. It causes a white rot which will kill the tree if it isn't already dead. Dryad's Saddle has beautiful, decorative light and dark brown markings on its cap that look like scales. Health benefits Dryad's saddle (Polyporus squamosus) Young Specimens (Photo by: Phil Sellens/Flickr) Much like other wild mushrooms, dryad's saddle can be a nice addition to your daily diet. These mushrooms are a wonderful source of protein and other essential nutrition.
Dryad's saddle typically has a 6 cm (2.36") stem that is attached to the wood and is up to 4cm (1.57") thick. Habitat Dryad's saddle grows saprotrophically on fallen logs and tree stumps. It can also be found growing parasitically on hardwood trees such as maple, elm, box elder and other deciduous trees. How to identify. Starting out as stout little ears a little like Shrek's, this fungus grows rapidly into beautiful saucers, often in tiers all down the side of the tree upon which it lives. The cap surface is pale cream/golden and has the most beautiful pattern of brown scales on top, which also gives it it's other nickname - 'Pheasants back.
Mushroom Identification Dryad's Saddle
Dryad saddles have a very strong farinaceous odor, similar to Clitopilus prunulus and others. To me (and most people) it resembles cucumber or watermelon rind--not a typical mushroomy aroma. Cooking will soften the flavor, but it won't remove it, and for me, and other people that like this mushroom, that's a good thing. Season - April - August Habitat - growing as a parasite on dead and dying deciduous trees, especially elm, beech and sycamore. The pores of young dryad's saddle often smell of water melon! I have harshly rated this beautiful fungi for edibility due to the difficulty of catching it in its youthful prime.
