Pixel Wild
Hen Of The Woods
Hen Of The Woods
Grifola frondosa
Fungi
UNCOMMON

Stats

Lifespan
A few weeks
Size
Large
Diet
Decomposer
Biome
Temperate forest
Range
Northern Hemisphere
Movement
Sessile
Breeding
Spores
Defense
Camouflage
Status
Uncommon

About

Hen of the woods is a polypore mushroom that grows in dense, ruffled clusters at the base of oaks and other hardwoods, resembling a nesting bird's feathers. In Japan it is prized as maitake, the "dancing mushroom," said to be named for the joy foragers felt upon finding one.

Life cycle

  1. 1.
    spore
    A microscopic spore drifts on air or water and germinates where moisture and substrate meet.
  2. 2.
    mycelium
    A thread-like mycelium spreads through the substrate, breaking it down into nutrients.
  3. 3.
    fruiting body
    A mature fruiting body emerges to release the next generation of spores.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Polyporales
Family
Grifolaceae
Genus
Grifola
Species
Grifola frondosa