Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

Do not eat any fungi that has not been properly identified by a qualified professional, some are DEADLY when ingested. All edible wild fungi MUST be cooked.

The disappointed morel hunter is usually never totally blanked as there are (typically) many dryad's saddle to be found. Foragers enjoy this edible springtime fungi as it is relatively common but depending on its age they become quite leathery making it virtually impossible to use in the kitchen. Dryad's saddle are much easier to find than morels because they stick out as shelves from the lower portion of dead tree trunks. First described scientifically in 1778 by English botanist William Hudson (1730 - 1793), who named it Boletus squamosus, this species was renamed Polyporus squamosus by Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries in his 1821 Systema Mycologicum.

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

- click for video -

Distinguishing Features

Individual caps grow anywhere from 10 to 60cm in diameter (4 to 24”) and can get to 5cm (almost 2”) thick. Often in tiers, the caps are attached to the host tree by a short lateral stem that darkens towards the base. They are variable in outline but generally are semi-circular, kidney-shaped even fan-shaped. Dryad's saddle is broadly convex becoming flat, and can be slightly or deeply depressed. They are typically pale tan with an overlay of large, flattened, brown to almost black scales.

Height

This fungi does not have as much height as it has a broad width. 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. It is a white-rot fungus that causes decay in the heartwood of living trees. They will be found in the same locations every year until the wood is consumed. They are commonly found in many areas across Canada and the U.S as well as in several European countries, Asia, and supposedly (although rare) in Australia. There are no distribution maps that I have found that can pinpoint exact locations of this fungi so on the map that appears with the images, locations are approximate. Please check with local resources for specific locations.

Spore Print

Tubes are small in the early stage of growth becoming fairly large and angular running (somewhat) down the stem. They are oblong-ellipsoidal and smooth (10-15 x 4-5.5µm). Spores are whitish to yellowish tan.

Season

These are typically found in April and May but occasionally they will fruit later in the year.

Edibility

Dryad's saddle is best when young and tender. So long as more mature specimens have white flesh they can be collected, dried and powdered or broken into very small pieces for use in soups or stews. The best rule to follow is to use your foraging knife and if you find that it is tough to remove it, then leave it. Younger dryad's saddle can be roasted or sauteed. They must be cooked before consumed. They have a mealy odour and taste, yet it is pleasant.

Other Name

Pheasant Back Mushroom.

To support our efforts please browse our store (books with medicinal info, etc.).

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

    • Report
    • Share

Found this growing on the grass.  Gilled, fluted edge.  Can't identify.

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

  • Quote

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

    • Report
    • Share

Lepiota mature ones, of some type me thinks.

  • Quote

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

    • Report
    • Share

I think it's a mature version of this.

  • Quote

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

    • Report
    • Share

Just noticed that root system and clustered so no lepiota, pholiota might be it.

  • Quote

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

  • Author

    • Report
    • Share

Eat-bolete, doesn't look like the same to me, stem too thick in the other.  But.... it did get me thinking about a comment you made in the referenced post.  Could it be Armillaria Ostoyae?

Also, I made a post regarding square mushrooms, could they also be in the Armillaria family?  Different mushroom, different area, but relatively the same growing conditions and same time and town.

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

  • Quote

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

    • Report
    • Share

Diana, mushrooms on the photo are ringless and have decurrent gills, which does not match Armillaria Ostoyae. Now I'm actually thinking it might be a species of Paxillus.

I don't believe the latter mushroom with dark brown stem is Armillaria, can't find a good proposal for that one.

  • Quote

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

  • Author

    • Report
    • Share

Scaly Lentin may be right!  I did do a spore print and it was white.  While it was not apparently growing on wood it could have been a buried piece or decomposing root.  It was from a treed park within the dripline of probably an oak (didn't note the variety of tree it was near only the fact that it was near a large tree)

It's so frustrating sometimes.  I tend to dive in the deep end of whatever my current interest is and become overwhelmed.  But, believe it or not, I am learning.  I go out hunting everyday and come home with edibles I am 100% sure of.  While I always assumed that the woods would be the most productive I'm finding that old trees (oaks or pine) that sit surrounded by a good amount of grass are prime.  Boletes near the trunks and milk caps just within the drip line.  The most pretty ones that stop my car are invariably aminita.  Just the other day I found a gorgeous dinner plate sized.  Thought "Now here is a weapon of mass destruction!"

  • Quote

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

    • Report
    • Share

Your scaly Neolentinus has a long rooting stem. This likely attached to buried roots. My guess is there was once a pine tree in this spot, and the roots are still decomposing. N. lepideus often grows on old wood. 

Yup, it can be frustrating trying to ID every mushroom that catches your eye. So many species out there, and, as the old sating goes... the mushrooms can't read the books, so they don't know what they're supposed to look like. 

  • Quote

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom
Poisonous look alike poisonous Pheasant back mushroom

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Can you eat Dryad's Saddle mushroom?

Also known as the dryad's saddle, this beginner-friendly mushroom is abundant and easy to identify. It's often passed over by foragers who dismiss them as being near-inedible—but that's false and a shame. Not only are these mushrooms edible, they can be downright delicious.

What is Dryad's Saddle good for?

Young dryad's saddle can be pickled, sautéd or fried. Older specimens can be used to make excellent mushrooms stock. I've used the young and soft flesh and the mushroom stock to make Dryad's Saddle Soup. The one thing all the dryad's saddle recipes have in common is to slice this mushroom very thin.

How do you preserve a Dryad's saddle?

Store fresh dryad's saddle in the fridge but be sure to use them within two days to be on the safe side. A great way to preserve these fungi without drying it is to slice them thin and pickle them.

How do you dehydrate a Dryad's saddle?

For the powder slice the dryads saddle nice and thin about 2mm and put in the dehydrator at 60°c for 4 to 6 hours you want them nice and crispy!