Help Me Identify this Fungus Please

[byter]

Hi People

I found this site on a search and i hope you can help

I found this fungus in a bush in my school playground (im the caretaker not a student) and i need to know what it is and if its in any way harmful.

Thanks

Stu

[shroomboy]

Hi Stu,

No need to worry this fungus is not toxic, in fact it is edible. It is commonly known as 'Dryads Saddle' its latin name Polyporus squamosus.

Hope this puts your mind at rest.

Andy Overall
Group Leader
London Fungus Group

[NickCantle]

Hello Byter and a warm welcome to WAB and the fungi forum

Seems that Andy beat me to the ID, for what it's worth (Andy's just 'a bit good' ) I concur that this is Polyporus squamosus - Dryad's Saddle. Big discussion on the edibility of said species going on in the forum at the moment- though yours looks way past its best If you're after a good read though, check out;

Wild About Britain Fungi Forums - Anyone ever eaten Dryad's Saddle?

Nick

[byter]

Thanks mate
I was researching this afternoon and that was the only one i found that looked like it but i wasnt sure.

Cheers for the help

Stu

[shroomboy]

Hi Nick,

P. squamosus is in fact really nice to eat, but only when young and in its 'goblet' stage, once it has fanned out it becomes rather tough and unpalatable, I had some only recently actually, very tasty.

Best

Andy

[byter]

Thanks nick

I have to say I have no intention of testing its edibility. They are quite large (its 3 separate bodies) the largest is approx 25 - 30cm across.

stu

[fairplay]

Hi Byter,

Hope you're still with us, just out of curiosity, if it had turned out to be a poisonous fungus and the reply was 'poisonous if eaten, but quite safe if left alone' - as caretaker, how would you have reacted ?
Would you take it in your own hands to remove the fungus, would you report to the headmaster first and make a joint decision or does the school have it's own or a council's policy to adhere to which would oblige you to remove it ?

I would suppose if a decision was taken to leave it, you would have to bear in mind a hysterical parent finding out and the possibility of a headline in the paper " School puts my child's life at risk"

Then there is the education option - do you tell the children the truth (safe if left alone) and just hope none decide to play a dangerous prank ?
Also if the fungus was rare, but not legally protected, and maybe the age of the children may have to be taken into account.

Not an easy decision to make !!

Neil.

[fairplay]

P.S. It would be even better if the school had a book on fungi in the library and a natural history teacher (do school's have them ?) went through the process of Identification with children as part of a lesson and then let the children come up with an identification.

Neil.