This mushroom seems to ooze out of a dead maple in Corinth, Vermont. What is it?
Answer
The mushroom pictured here is Polyporus squamosus, commonly known as the Dryad’s Saddle (In Greek mythology, a dryad is a tree-dwelling nymph). For those who prefer ornithological references, the mushroom is sometimes called pheasant’s back mushroom, for obvious reasons. It’s a mushroom found throughout the Northeast.
According to mycologist David Fischer, P. squamosus is a deadly parasite on hardwoods such as sugar maple. In the case of the American elm, however, it is a saprobe, which means it’s a decomposer that shows up after the tree is already dead or dying. Thanks to Dutch elm disease, the mushroom is ubiquitous on elm logs and stumps.
There is some debate over whether the mushroom tastes good, but mycologists agree that young, tender specimens are edible. In the book Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America, there’s a recipe for “pheasant’s back jambalaya.”
This week’s contest winner was Susan Sawyer of East Calais VT