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*Grifola frondosa*
Mycological characteristics
Grifola frondosa Mycological characteristics
	Pores on hymenium
	Cap is offset or indistinct
	Hymenium is decurrent
	Stipe is bare
	Spore print is white
	Ecology is parasitic
	Edibility is choice

Maitake
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Polyporales
Family:	Meripilaceae
Genus:	Grifola
Species:	G. frondosa
Binomial name
	Grifola frondosa; (Dicks.) Gray (1821)
Synonyms
	Boletus frondosus Dicks. (1785); Polyporus frondosus Fr.;

Grifola frondosa (also known as hen-of-the-woods, maitake (舞茸, "dancing mushroom") in Japanese, ram's head or sheep's head) is a polypore mushroom that grows at the base of trees, particularly old growth oaks or maples. It is typically found in late summer to early autumn. It is native to China, Europe, and North America.^[2]

Description

Like the sulphur shelf mushroom, G. frondosa is a perennial fungus that often grows in the same place for several years in succession. It occurs most prolifically in the northeastern regions of the United States, but has been found as far west as Idaho.^{[citation needed]}

G. frondosa grows from an underground tuber-like structure known as a sclerotium, about the size of a potato. The fruiting body, occurring as large as 100 centimetres (40 inches), rarely 150 cm (60 in), is a cluster consisting of multiple grayish-brown caps which are often curled or spoon-shaped, with wavy margins and 2–10 cm (1–4 in) broad.^[3] The undersurface of each cap bears about one to three pores per millimeter, with the tubes rarely deeper than 3 mm (1⁄8 in).^[3] The milky-white stipe (stalk) has a branchy structure and becomes tough as the mushroom matures.^{[citation needed]}

In Japan, the maitake can grow to more than 45 kilograms (100 pounds).

Maitake, a polypore mushroom
A large specimen found in New York state
Maitake mushroom tempura

Identification

This is a very distinct mushroom except for its cousin, the black staining mushroom, which is similar in taste but rubbery. Edible species which look similar to Grifola frondosa include Meripilus sumstinei (which stains black), Sparassis spathulata^[4] and Laetiporus sulphureus, another edible bracket fungus that is commonly called chicken of the woods or "sulphur shelf."

Uses

The species is a choice edible mushroom.^[5] Maitake has been consumed for centuries in China and Japan^[6] where it is one of the major culinary mushrooms.^{[citation needed]} The mushroom is used in many Japanese dishes, such as nabemono.^{[citation needed]} The softer caps must be thoroughly cooked.^[3]

Research

Although under laboratory and preliminary clinical research for many years, particularly for the possible biological effects of its polysaccharides, there are no completed, high-quality clinical studies for Grifola frondosa as of 2019^[update].^[6]^[7]

References

^ McIlvaine, Charles; Robert K. Macadam; and Robert L. Shaffer. 1973. One Thousand American Fungi. Dover Publications. New York. 729 pp. (Polyporus frondosus, pp. 482-483 & Plate CXXVIII.)
^ Meuninck, Jim (2015-06-01). Jim Meuninck - Basic Illustrated Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms, pp. 13-14, Rowman & Littlefield, 1 Jun 2015. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781493014682. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
^ Meuninck, Jim (2017). Foraging Mushrooms Oregon: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms. Falcon Guides. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-4930-2669-2.
^ Miller Jr., Orson K.; Miller, Hope H. (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, CN: FalconGuides. p. 420. ISBN 978-0-7627-3109-1.
^ ^a ^b "Maitake, Grifola frondosa". Drugs.com. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
^ "Maitake". Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.