Huge fungus in my garden!

[Special Agent]

Hello, I am new!

I've joined because I have a huge fungus in my garden and I would love to know what it is. It's fascinating.

It started to emerge a few days ago and is now about 30cm across. It's growing from an old tree stump and it has a little baby growing beside it. It has a bulbous stem, a wide flat top which is 30cm across with a depression in the centre, is a brownish colour on top with a sort of ring of scales radiating out from the centre.

I have some pics which I can email (as I am not allowed to attached them?) if anyone can help I would be very happy to know what it is and if it's poisonous. There are children and dogs who play in the garden.

Thank you so much.

[CapAndBracket]

At a gess i'm thinking Polyporus squamosus, you can upload images to the Gallery to place on here, and welcome to WAB.

Cheers J.P.

[Special Agent]

Aha, thank you! I can now add these images for correct identification...



Is it what you thought? It doesn't grow like a bracket though, which would be my only query having looked up Dryad's Saddle.

Any confirmation would be great.

Thank you again.

[Lancashire Lad]

Your fungus does indeed appear to be Dryad's Saddle - P.squamosus, as suggested by J.P.

Dryad's, does usually grow as a saddle, but depending on where it is growing, it does occasionally appear as a more "toadstool" looking fungus, but with an off-centre stipe (stem).

Dryad's isn't poisonous, in fact it's considered edible, but having said that, you must not consider eating any fungus on the basis of identification from photograph alone.

For eating purposes, you need to be absolutely 100% certain of what you are dealing with, as mistakes can be poisonously costly

Regards
Mike.

[ron1863]

Hi and a warm welcome to WAB. It certainly looks like Polyporus squamosus - Dryad's Saddle to me.

[Special Agent]

Great, thank you all very much for the confirmation - it's pretty unanimous. I am not planning on eating though, just wanted to know what it was and will tell my neighbours to keep the dog and children from touching it just in case!

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by Special Agent

Great, thank you all very much for the confirmation - it's pretty unanimous. I am not planning on eating though, just wanted to know what it was and will tell my neighbours to keep the dog and children from touching it just in case!

Even if members here are always cautious when giving identifications on photos alone I think I can reassure you and the dog that there is no danger of poisoning from the fungus.

Mal