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Public Description of Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) Gray
Taxonomic Classification: Domain: Eukarya General Description:
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). See Tom Volk’s page on Grifola frondosa (2) Diagnostic Description: Cluster: 15-60cm broad or more, very large, sometimes weighing in excess of 4 kg Caps: 2-10cm width on individual caps, fan-shaped, gray-brown, curled or contorted, often with concentric zones and wavy margins Pore surface: lavender-gray when young, turning dirty-white to yellowish with age while creeping down the stem, pores angular, 1-3 pores per mm Stem: branched, smooth, white, tough, usually lateral Flesh: firm, white, tough Taste: mild Odor: mild, nutty Type of rot: white butt rot Spores: spore print white, 5-7×3.5-5 micrometers, smooth, hyaline, broadly elliptical Hyphal Structure: trimitic, generative hyphae with clamp connections (1), (2), (4), (5) Distribution: Widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains, rare in the west (2). Also found in eastern Asia and Europe. Habitat: Parasitic on hardwoods and conifers, often continuing as a saprophyte on dead trees. Fruits in large clusters of rosettes near the bases of trees,usually oaks (Quercus), often reappearing in the same place in subsequent years (2). Look Alikes: Dendropolyporus umbellatus = Polyporus umbellatus form large, overlapping clusters of circular, whitish to pale brown, depressed caps with centrally attached branches on the ground near hardwoods (1).
Meripilus sumstinei is also similar, but with thicker, shelf-like caps and a white pore surface that bruises black (1).
Uses: The species has been used in traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine for thousands of years as a treatment for spleen and stomach ailments, calming nerves and mind, treating hemorrhoids, cancer, palsy, nerve pain, and arthritis. More generally, the mushroom was used for general treatments for immune stimulation and regulation of homeostasis (4). The Japanese common name, maitake, means “dancing mushroom,” because when someone finds one they are inclined to do a dance of joy. A very popular edible in Eastern North America References: (1) Bessette, A.E., Bessette, A.R., and Fischer, D.W. Mushrooms of Northeastern North America. 1997. Syracuse, NY. Syracuse University Press, 2002. (2) Kuo, M. (2004, November). Grifola frondosa: The hen of the woods. Retrieved Nov. 2008 from MushroomExpert.Com: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/grifola_frondosa.html (3) Kuo, M. (2004, November). Polyporus umbellatus. Retrieved Nov. 2008 from MushroomExpert.Com: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/polyporus_umbellatus.html (4) Volk, T. and Zitomer, N. (2006, November). Grifola frondosa, hen of the woods, sheepshead, or maitake. Retrieved Nov. 2008 from TomVolkFungi.net: http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/nov2006.html (5) Volk, T. (2000). Naming the Polypores: Why Polyporus has been split up into more than 100 genera. Retrieved Nov. 2008 from TomVolkFungi.net: http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/polypore.html Notes: Jake Cox Synonymy: Synonymy Contributor(s): hen of the woods, sheepshead, or maitake. Description authors: Tom Volk, Jake Cox (Request Authorship Credit)  Created: 2008-12-25 20:00:15 EST (-0500) by Tom Volk (TomVolk) |
