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Grifola frondosa


Grifola frondosa
Photo Information
Copyright: John Denk (jpdenk) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 265 W: 1 N: 400] (1084)
Genre: Fungi
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-24
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Nikon D70, Micro Nikkor AF60mm f2.8
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-27 13:51
Viewed: 419
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Grifola frondosa, Hen of the Woods, Sheepshead and Maitake are a few of the names for this wonderful mushroom. A weak pathogen of hardwoods, primarily Oaks, it grows in large clusters around the base of the tree that it's feeding off of, sometimes growing to a huge size when conditions are perfect. Specimens weighing as much as 60 pounds have been collected in the Chicago area, and there have been reports of even larger specimens. The typical fruiting body weighs perhaps 2 to 6 pounds.

Since they fruit on the same tree for many years, once you have a productive tree, you just return to it every year at the appropriate time and pick your prize, as long as some other picker, or deer, haven't been there first.

The fruiting body grows from a sturdy base with many caps sprouting from this single base. The mushroom is variable in color, grayish brown, brown, tan and even whitish when growing in the dark. The pore surface starts out white and ages to an ivory color.

In North America, it's primarily found east of the Rocky Mountains, although it does rarely occur in the west. This species is found around the world in temperate climates and is a popular edible pretty much everywhere that it occurs.

Here in the Chicago area, it typically begins fruiting in late summer to early fall following the first significant cool spell, especially if the cooler weather is accompanied by significant rainfall. In years with good rainfall, these mushrooms are quite abundant and I've picked as much as 50 pounds in just a few minutes. These are my favorite wild mushroom for the table.

This mushroom is reputedly valuable for boosting the immune system and some report that it has value in fighting cancer.
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To fungiman: Thanksjpdenk 1 03-24 12:27
To boreocypriensis: Thanksjpdenk 1 03-24 12:25
To fungiman: Thanks Clivejpdenk 1 02-29 07:09
To tuslaw: Thanks Ronjpdenk 1 02-27 16:12
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Critiques [Translate]

John, G
Great shot of this nice specimen. I've always wanted to try some but I'm a little hesitant when it comes to eating something I'm not 100% sure of. One of these days I hope to find someone around here who can positively identify some for me.
I like to go out for the Morels in the spring and then the white button type that are pink underneath in the fall.
Your photo very clearly shows what this type actually looks like. The colours are very natural and you have wonder detail.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Ron

Hi My friend John,

Perfect close-up capture of this interesting and pathogenic mushroom which i heve not seen before friend! Your note also excellent! TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

A genus that I have only seen once you have captured it well with good colour and sharpnes

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