A large rosette of grey-brown fan-shaped caps that fruits at the base of oaks, also known as maitake in Japan.
Where it grows
Hen of the woods fruits in autumn at the base of mature oak trees — usually the same individual tree year after year — appearing as a large rosette that can weigh several kilograms. It is a heart-rot fungus that gradually consumes the tree’s lower trunk and roots.
How to recognise it
The fruitbody is a dense cluster of many overlapping fan-shaped or tongue-shaped caps, each 4–10 cm across, in shades of grey, brown, or warm tan. The underside of each cap is white and finely pored (not gilled). All the caps spring from a common branching white base buried in the leaf litter.
How to harvest
Cut the whole cluster cleanly from the base, leaving the underground mycelium intact. A single mature hen can yield five kilograms or more.
Edibility & cautions
A choice edible with no dangerous look-alikes; the related Meripilus giganteus (giant polypore) bruises black and is much tougher. Cook young, tender margins of the caps; tougher central flesh is good for stock.
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Hen of the Woods starts with H and ends with S. Browse other mushrooms along the same letter.
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