How to identify Dryad's Saddle

To correctly identify Dryad's Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   Kidney-shaped to semicircular, 5-60 cm wide. The surface is dry, pale yellowish-brown to tan, covered with dark brown scales arranged in a concentric pattern.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   N/A - Dryad's Saddle has pores instead of gills. The pores are angular, white to yellowish, and extend down the stem.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   Short, thick, and lateral (attaching to the side of the cap) or eccentric (off-center). Whitish to yellowish-brown in color.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   Thick, white, and fleshy when young, becoming tougher with age. Has a distinct odor, often described as watermelon rind or cucumber-like.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   A large bracket fungus that grows on wood, often in overlapping shelves.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Grows on dead or dying deciduous trees, especially elm. Can be found on logs, stumps, or wounds on living trees.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Dry, scaly

Growth Form

Bracket fungus, growing in shelves

Spore Print

White

Body color

Pale yellowish-brown to tan with dark brown scales

Odor

Distinct, watermelon rind or cucumber-like

Flesh bruises

Does not typically bruise

Height

Varies depending on the size of the bracket

Cap Diameter

5-60 cm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: N/A (pores instead of gills)
• Stem shape: Lateral or eccentric
• Stem surface: Smooth to slightly rough
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Solid

Explore Dryad's Saddle