Polyporus squamosus

Polyporus squamosus (Huds.) Fr.

common name(s) : Dryad's Saddle, Scaly Polypore

New classification: Basidiomycota/Agaricomycotina/Agaricomycetes/Incertae sedis/Polyporales/Polyporaceae
Former classification: Basidiomycota/Homobasidiomycetes/Aphyllophoromycetideae

synonyms: Melanopus squamosus
(unconfirmed synonyms: Cerioporus squamosus, Polyporellus squamosus, Polyporus flabelliformis, Leucoporus lepidus, Bresadolia paradoxa, Polyporus rostkovii, Polyporus westii)

edibility : edible

The cap is dark brown (scales) on a creamy background, bracket-shaped or circular, fleshy then corky or leathery. The cap surface is scaly, arranged concentrically. The cap margin is regular.

The stem is off-centred or lateral, tapering and blackening towards the base.

The flesh is white; its taste is mealy; the odour is mealy or of honey;

The tubes are 1cm long, white to creamy, slightly decurrent on stem, non removable.

The pores are large (one or two pores per mm), angular, white then yellowish. The spore print is white.

It grows in parks, on various broad-leaved trees (parasite or saprophyte), on elm, beech, ash, sycamore, walnut, chestnut.

The fruiting period takes place from March to November.

Dimensions:	width of cap approximately 32 cm (between 10 and 80 cm)
	height of stem approximately 6 cm (between 2 and 10 cm)
	thickness of stem (at largest section) approximately 35 mm (between 10 and 60 mm)

Distinctive features : circular or bracket-shaped, dark brown scales on creamy background; white, lateral or off-centred stem, darkening to black from the base up; white pores, large and angular; on deciduous trees

Polyporus squamosus is quite rare and scattered in the forest of Rambouillet, and is frequent, more generally speaking .

here should be the distribution map of Polyporus squamosus in the forest of Rambouillet

Above : distribution map of Polyporus squamosus in the forest of Rambouillet

page updated on 14/01/18