The Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa) is a large polypore that forms a dense, rosette-like cluster of overlapping, tongue-shaped caps, each 2-10 cm across. The caps are greyish-brown to yellowish-brown, wrinkled in radiating lines and often faintly zoned, and they arise from short whitish stems that merge into a shared base. The pores underneath are small, angular and white to cream. The whole clump can reach 20-50 cm across.
In the UK it grows at the base of broadleaved trees, especially oak, from Aug to Dec. It is uncommon but widespread. The flesh is firm and fibrous, with a pleasant smell when fresh that turns cheese-like in older specimens.
The Hen of the Woods can be confused with the Giant Polypore (Meripilus giganteus), which has larger, more fan-shaped caps and stains black when handled or bruised. The Cep Bracket (Polyporus umbellatus) and other clustered polypores also look similar. It is regarded as non-toxic and edible, but, as with any wild fungus, be certain of the identification before eating it.
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Distribution
Uncommon but widespread
Habitat
At base of broadleaved trees, especially Quercus
Etymology
Grifola is of uncertain origin. It is often linked to the Greek grîphos, meaning a fishing basket or net (also a riddle), which would suit the tangled, interwoven growth of the cluster, but this is not firmly established. The epithet frondosa is Latin for leafy or full of fronds, and describes the mass of overlapping, leaf-like caps.
Associates
Quercus
Fruiting Body
Forms a dense mass of many semi-circular to tongue-shaped caps, each 2-10 cm across, borne on short whitish stems that fuse together into one larger clump. The upper surface of each cap is wrinkled in radiating lines and also shows concentric zones.
| Cycle | annual |
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| Colour | |
| Width | 20 - 50 cm |
Pores
The pores are small, numbering 2-4 per mm, so the underside looks finely and evenly pitted.
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Tubes
The tubes are shallow, reaching up to 5 mm deep.
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Flesh
The flesh is firm and fibrous, and is slightly zonate when cut.
| Colour | |
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| Odour | Pleasant when fresh, cheese-like when old |
| Taste | Mild to slightly bitter |
Spores
The spores are smooth and subglobose, measuring 5-6 x 3.5-4.5 µm. They are colourless under the microscope and produce a white spore print. They are not ornamented.
| Colour | |
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| Size | 5-6 x 3.5-4.5 μm |
Microscopic Features
Cystidia are absent from the hymenium. The hyphal system is dimitic, and clamp connections are found on the generative hyphae.
Classification
- ↳ Phylum: Basidiomycota
- ↳ Subphylum: Agaricomycotina
- ↳ Class: Agaricomycetes
- ↳ Order: Polyporales
- ↳ Family: Grifolaceae
- ↳ Genus: Grifola
Synonyms
- Boletus elegans Bolton
- Boletus frondosus Dicks.
- Grifola frondosa (Dicks. ex Fr.) Gray
- Grifola frondosa f. intybacea (Fr.) Pilát
- Grifola frondosa f. intybacea Fr.
- Grifola intybacea (Fr.) Imazeki
- Grifola intybacea anon.
- Polyporus barrelieri Viv.
- Polyporus frondosus (Dicks.) Fr.
- Polyporus frondosus var. intybaceus (Fr.) anon. ined.
- Polyporus frondosus var. intybaceus anon.
- Polyporus intybaceus
- Polyporus intybaceus Fr.
Reference Sources
T. Læssøe, J. H. Peterson (2019) Fungi of Temperate Europe Vol. 2. Princeton University Press.
G. Kibby (2020) Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain & Europe Vol. 1. Geoffrey Kibby.
Genus Grifola
No other species found in this genus.
