{"id":10974,"date":"2022-04-20T10:03:15","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T10:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=10974"},"modified":"2022-09-05T17:20:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T22:20:32","slug":"black-staining-polypore-vs-hen-of-the-woods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/black-staining-polypore-vs-hen-of-the-woods\/","title":{"rendered":"Black-Staining Polypore Vs Hen Of The Woods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve been mushroom hunting for any length of time, you know how tough it can be to correctly identify and differentiate between certain mushrooms. There are many look-alikes in the mushroom world. Today, we\u2019re going to compare the black staining polypore vs. the hen of the woods, two edible varieties that are often confused for each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Black-Staining Polypore?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What
Black-Staining Polypore<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Black-staining polypore<\/a> is a mushroom that grows in clusters from a communal base. It looks very similar to other types of polypore mushrooms, most notably the hen of the woods; the resemblance is so striking that some mushroom lovers have taken to calling black-staining polypore \u201crooster of the woods\u201d<\/em> as a joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mushroom is native to North America and can be found commonly throughout the eastern parts of the United States. A closely related species can be found in Europe but has not been introduced to the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-staining polypore is so-named because it has a distinctive characteristic: it turns black, brown, or dark gray when touched or damaged. This feature can be used to help distinguish it not only from hen of the woods but from other lookalike mushrooms as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-staining polypore looks a little like a mass of gray or white clouds when it is young; as it grows, the caps flatten and become more fan-shaped. They are generally gray to white in color with gold or yellowish margins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mushroom tends to grow near the base of hardwood trees and is sometimes parasitic, as it can slowly kill living trees. It has a short, thick, off-center stem or base; the underside of the caps are smooth and gill-less, and the spore print is white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-staining polypore fruits from mid summer to late fall; it is technically edible, though most people don\u2019t like to eat it because it is tough and bitter tasting. It is unknown whether black-staining polypore has any medicinal benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Hen of the Woods?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What
Hen of the Woods<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hen of the woods<\/a> is another type of mushroom cluster that grows from a single base. It is also considered a polypore mushroom because its spores are emitted from a smooth, gill-less underside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hen of the woods is found in North America, parts of Europe, and Japan. It is also commonly called by its Japanese name, Maitake, and its scientific name, Grifola frondosa.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hen of the woods looks a lot like a fluffy gray chicken, hence the common name. Its caps are small, ruffled and feather-like, typically grayish-lavender in color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hen of the woods mushrooms can grow quite large; sometimes a single cluster can weigh as much as 50 pounds and measure three feet in diameter. Most clusters are smaller though, about 5 to 10 pounds and a foot in diameter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hen of the mushrooms are parasites that live off hardwood trees, both living and dead. They have fleshy, branching stems, the underside of the caps are smooth and grayish-white, and the spore print is white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hen of the woods fruits primarily in the fall and is a popular edible mushroom. It also has many purported health benefits, including diabetes management, supporting bone health and overall immunity, and reducing heart disease risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black-Staining Polypore Vs. Hen of the Woods: Similarities and Differences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Similarities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n