Hen of the woods
Grifola frondosa
EdibleMushroomGrifolaceae
Safety assessment
Edible
Based on reviewed safety sources.
A large, layered bracket with grey-brown wavy caps, growing at the base of old broadleaf trees. Young and tender it is a good edible.
Identification
- Grows as a mass of many caps, repeating like a cauliflower head.
- Grows only at the base of living or dead broadleaves, especially oak.
Baltic distribution
- Latvia
- 21
- Lithuania
- 10
- Estonia
- 69
- Global
- 25825
Occurrence records in GBIF — not a claim that the species is absent elsewhere.
Safety first. This information is an educational reference, not a confirmation of an edible mushroom. Identifying fungi is difficult and mistakes can be dangerous. Never eat a mushroom unless you are completely certain of its identity, and consult a certified mycologist.
