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Edible

Dryad's Saddle

Cerioporus squamosus
Also known as: Dryad's Saddle, pheasant's back mushroom, pheasant's back polypore
Botanical Overview

Cerioporus squamosus aka Polyporus squamosus is a basidiomycete bracket fungus, with common names including dryad's saddle and pheasant's back mushroom. It has a widespread distribution, being found in North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe, where it causes a white rot in the heartwood of living and dead hardwood trees. The name "dryad's saddle" refers to creatures in Greek mythology called dryads who could conceivably sit and rest on this mushroom, whereas the pheasant's back analogy derives from the pattern of colors on the bracket matching that of a pheasant's back.

Foraging Safety · Hazard Watch

Similar & Confusing Lookalikes

Never harvest or eat wild mushrooms based on photos alone. Always cross-check against these similar lookalikes:

Polyporus tuberaster Lookalike
Polyporus tuberaster
Polyporus tuberaster
Read on Wikipedia
Neofavolus alveolaris Lookalike
Neofavolus alveolaris
Neofavolus alveolaris
Read on Wikipedia
birch polypore Inedible
birch polypore
Fomitopsis betulina
View Species Guide
Classification

Scientific Taxonomy

Kingdom Fungi Phylum Basidiomycota Class Agaricomycetes Order Polyporales Family Polyporaceae Genus Cerioporus
Safety Notice: Never consume any wild mushroom based exclusively on photographs or app identification. Many deadly poisonous species (such as Amanita phalloides) closely mimic edible varieties. Always verify your specimen in person with a certified expert mycologist.
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