IS THIS CHICKEN OF THE WOODS

[cruixman]

HI ALL. can anyone say for certain. is this chicken of the woods. i photographed it the other day. there was 3 beech trees i think. each had a great big fungus. like this on it. heres the picture all
............................................................jim...............................................................

[Hedgehogpie]

No. Too late in the season for that one.

It's probably Hen of the Woods though. (Confused? Have a peek in Roger's: http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/ ... result.asp )

[cruixman]

thanks for your reply hedgehogpie. and im sure you have pinned it down correctly. and it was at the extreme base of a beech tree...many thanks...jim

[Clara]

Giant polypore? Flesh and pores on the underside will bruise black with handling. Prefers to grow at the base of beech trees.

Not from my brain, the collins gem mushroom book.....really good photos and descriptions for a pocket guide.

[cruixman]

you sure clara. isnt the hen of the woods a giant polypore??????

[Clara]

In my book they are two separate entries
*tries to wrestle mushroom book off toddler*
*fails*
*suceeds briefly*
Hen of the Woods = Grifola frondosa
*more wrestling*
Giant polypore = Merilpilus giganteus.
Phew exhausting!

[cruixman]

very hard to pick between those 2 clara. but i see they are both very edible. is there any sinister ones. that may look the same....thankyou clara

[Clara]

Not according to info I have, giant polypore can cause gastric upset in some people, but I don't know to what extent (I mean there's getting the farts and then there's bent double agony KWIM?)
The pores of the giant polypore will bruise black on handling and hen of the woods will be quite tough before cooking.

Do you have a book? I'm quite into the one I'm referring to, really makes it clear what it could be confused with and how to tell them apart (and it fits in your pocket!).

[cruixman]

no i dont have a book clara. but i need one. with photographs not pictures. im quite new to mushrooms. most of my free time this year has been spent taking pics of them, ive only eaten 2 types so far. which seemed easy to identify. and were numerous in a glen near me. they were ceps,pennybuns. or whatever there called where you are. the others were chanterelles. and very tastey they were too have you eaten many types

[Clara]

No just a few parasols and a beefsteak everything I find round here seems to be poisonous! Though there is what I believe to be a membranous earthball tribe in my veggie patch, a little more investigation and I might try one (though I'm pregnant, so there's a little more at stake than silly old me).

Like you I'm more into investigation for now, I've written elsewhere that I see this as a lifetime pursuit so I'm in no hurry.

My little book has photos and really clear ones, the photo you posted looks exactly like the GP in it. I'm sure everyone has their favourite book, but I reckon you can't beat as much cross reference as you can get. Thing with the pocket guide is that at least when you're out and about you can make a quick decision as to whether there might be in any value in collecting the fungi and taking it home for a better look.
ISBN 0-00-718307-0 if you're interested.

BTW thx for posting photos, it all adds to the investigation skills!

[cruixman]

FIRST OF ALL CONGRADULATIONS

IM A FAMILY MAN TOO. I HAVE A GIRL OF 6. AND A SET OF TWINS OF 2YEARS. A BOY AND A GIRL.
BUT FOR ME TOO. IT,S A LEARNING CURVE. DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS OF THE FUNGUS YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERD. IF SO POST THE LINK. IL POST MY PICS LINK IN MY NEXT REPLY...THANKS AGAIN CLARA. ARE YOU IN SPAIN THEN. IM NEAR TO GLASGOW....JIM

[Clara]

OMG 2 year old twins my daughter is 2 on sunday if there were two of her *shudders* I don't know how I'd cope Of course I expect its heavenly in many ways, I'm just jaded from the tough day I've had with madam (up a mountain without a road, market day, overtired pee-sodden toddler to be coerced along a 2 mile path whilst I carry a weeks supply on my back....too pregnant to get the waist belt of the rucksack to sit comfortably.....partner in nepal climbing mountains for the month ), anyway I digress...

I'll have to check whether there are still any remaining, we had perfect shroom conditions last week, but it's been dry for a while now, they may have come and gone.

[cruixman]

TELEPHONE HIM. and say its come home time clara. we are trying for more children just now. my wife would be jealous of your pregnant belly. shes baby mad. and on the hunt for more. but a better mother my children couldnt ask for. so are you from britain. but moved to spain. or are you spanish. il look that link up. n put it on my next reply clara....cheers

[Clara]

Ha ha well I thought I'd just sit it out, play it cool and demand my props when he gets back just about to start googling luxury yoga/massage/pamper retreats in morocco In truth he deserves his break, he's been waiting a long time to go back and he's had a rough year, his mum died after a very long illness a few months back.

Well good luck with number 4! Crazy people.

Yep, I'm a brit. I love the UK and we probably would've ended up in scotland had we not come here. Though I've always wanted to be off-grid and that's a damn sight easier if you have sunshine, so spain won out.

[Hedgehogpie]

If it was at the base of a beech, I'd go for Giant polypore. If you'd said it was an Oak, I would've stuck with Hen of the woods. I had a similar dilemma earlier this week with a pretty large specimen, but in my case ended up settling for Hen of the woods on account of the tree it was growing from.

Confusing, this fungi lark isn't it?