WiseAcre Gardens

Polyporus squamosus

This mushroom is also known as ‘Pheasant’s Back’ and is a large scaly mushroom that is often found by Morel Hunters. Compared to Morels, Dryad’s Saddles are easy to find. They grow on deciduous wood and are easily spotted on old stumps.

Early growth looks like stems with the caps broken off. But even then they have the ‘scales’ on top.

Their real season is in May but they will grow throughout the season. Their range extends from eastern Canada to North Carolina and then over to the Midwest.

The stem is quite thick and set off center.

Dryad’s Saddles grow singly or in groups. Either way they are an odd looking life form.

As the name implies – Polyporus squamosus – is a polypore and not a gilled mushroom.

This is not the largest one I’ve found. It’s the one where I thought to take a photo to show size. Dryad’s Saddles are edible. They get tough with age and are supposed to taste like watermelon rind. I haven’t tried any and am likely to eat one only on a bet.

And it would take a sizable bet.

Any takers?

• Mushrooms
• Comments(12)

12 Responses

1. keewee Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 9:44 am

   That is quite an interesting looking mushroom. Sorry I am not going to bet you, my $100 is aside for new plants for my garden *grin*

   keewee,
   Too bad. I need about 20 – 30 people to take me up on that bet. I’m headed to the perennial nursery next week and planning to spend quite a bundle. Dropping a couple grand only takes a few minutes

2. Heather Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 10:19 am

   Mushroom hunting this time of year is always a good time in Idaho. Haven’t seen any yet, but soon!

   Heather,
   Soon as the Lilacs buds start to open – get out hunting Morels.

3. RainGardener Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

   Those are really photogenic mushrooms with the dark spots. Pretty pictures. So that’s the bet money huh? Hmmm . . . nah cause I’m pretty sure you’d do it.

   RainGardener,
   They weren’t what I was looking for (Morels) but I was happy to find them. Not only are they cool looking – I could identify them too.

   Actually if you talked to my friends and family you would have taken the bet. I get real squeamish when it comes to putting fungus in my mouth. I’d say you’d have had better than even odds.

4. rainfield Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

   The stems are really thick. I have found many along my hiking trail but they exhibit very thin stems and look very fragile.

   rainfield,
   I bet you see some very interesting shrooms in your part of the world. Look but don’t eat

5. Sande Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

   Where do you find these things? I go into woods around here often and don’t see such cool stuff. And I won’t bet you, but if I had one and was sure of the identity I would taste it!

   Sande,
   Almost everything I find is on the ground. Guess I’m just lucky to have such diversity in the woods around me. But I do cover over 100 acres in my usual wanderings. I go from high and dry to low and wet, hardwoods to mixed, with fields and meadows in between and a river for a boundary I don’t cross.

   I’m glad no one is taking the bet. I really don’t like watermelon rind.

6. Ratty Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

   I’m not a betting man. Besides, I was distracted by that last picture for some reason. Every time I look at it, I start to sweat and I can’t think about anything else.

   Ratty,
   That’s OK, it was a sucker bet and I didn’t think anyone would take me up on it. But it never hurts to try. Double the bet?

7. Ellen Zachos Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

   That is one gorgeous mushroom! I would eat it, but then again foraging for wild mushrooms is one of my favorite things to do.

   Ellen,
   Then I shouldn’t tell you I found some Morels today

8. betchai Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 11:08 pm

   oh i can not bet i will end up not being able to sleep at all. i have not made any bet all, but i do love mushrooms, and i love them in my meal too

   betchai,
   I don’t want to keep you awake all night. All bets are off. Enjoy your meal.

9. Aiyana Says:
   May 12th, 2009 at 11:23 pm

   These are beautiful. We only have those off-white standards here, and since there is little moisture, even they are not that frequent. Before seeing your photos, I didn’t even know they existed.
   Aiyana

   Aiyana,
   I imagine Arizona isn’t good mushroom country. I’m as likely to find cactus in my yard as you are to find a lot of fungus in yours.

10. Giddy Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 8:30 am

    Sorry WA, but gnomes can’t bet as they do not receive compensation for all they do in the garden!

    Giddy,
    I’ve never seen a Gnome do anything. Every time I see one they’re either loitering on the lawn or sitting in a garden. And when you turn your back on them they salute you.
    

11. Monica the Garden Faerie Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 9:01 am

    Wow, those are really, really cool-looking–kind of like something that Magritte or Escher might have included in a painting/drawing.

    Monica,
    I too think these are cooler looking than most. Or something Escher ate before drawing.

12. Rick Tanner Says:
    June 23rd, 2010 at 10:38 am

    I’ll take the hundred. I have eaten these mushrooms but only when very young and the pores are not opened up, not water logged either. I would take them over a portabella mushroom or morel any day. Cook them in butter and white wine

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