Humam's Journal: Dryad's Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus)

The Cerioporus squamosus, commonly known as Dryad’s Saddle, is a fungus—part of the phylum Basidiomycota, order of Polyporales, and family of Polyporaceae. These fungi live on tree trunks, stumps, and logs. Dryad’s Saddle can grow on dead wood or on live wood, which the fungi will break down. These bad boys usually sprout 2-3 fruiting bodies, and they love white aspen and boxelder trees. The fruiting body of Dryad’s Saddle is edible when it is still a young fung; however, as Dryad’s Saddle matures, the mushroom becomes tough and cork-like—eventually, it will become infested with maggots and other bugs and be completely inedible.

Fun Fact: The name “Dryad’s Saddle” comes from Greek mythology-- these mushrooms are so big and round that tree nymphs (aka Dryads) were said to have ridden on them
Funner Fact: The genus Cerioporus is relatively new! Many fungi that were part of Polyporus (including Dryad’s Saddle) were re-classified into the Cerioporus genus after recent ‘phylogenic examination.’

Posted on October 12, 2021 07:26 PM by humamaziz