Fungi - 1 Grifolia frondosa

Grifolia frondosa - Fungi 1

Figure 1: G. frondosa growing at base of oak tree 

Name: Grifolia frondosa
Common Name: Hen of the Woods, Sheepshead
Family: Meripilaceae
Collection Date: 9/22/2016
Habitat: Growing at base of hardwood trees especially around oaks
Location: Chagrin Reservation - Chagrinfalls Ohio
Description: shelf-like with "leaves" white underside with gray to brown surface

Keying Guide used: Mushrooms Demystified - Key to Polyporus, Albatrellus and Allies
Keying Steps: Key to Polyporus, Albatrellus and Allies p 555 1.) Pores confined to underside of cap (or decurrent stalk), reddening in only a few cases... 2 2.) Fruiting body wood-inhabiting (on wood or roots or near the bases of tree stumps)...3 3.) Stalk not black at base, or if so then pores larger and/or fruiting body compound... 5 5.) Not as above (larger or with different habitat or color, etc.); not drying bone-hard...6 6.) Not as above; if growing on wood above ground then fruiting body larger or compound...9 9.) Not with above features...10 10.)Fruiting body compound i.e. with many small overlapping caps or segments arising from a common, often branched base; fairly common in eastern North america, especially with hardwoods, but rare in West; spores smooth...11 11.) Not with above features...28 28.) Caps usually spoon or fan shaped; caps off-center to lateral ... Grifolia frondosa
Keying Guide Source: Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press.