scales the dead broadleaf tree trunks
- Size
- Width: 10–30 cm
- Lifespan
- 1 years
- Diet
- Saprotrophic and parasitic. Feeds on dead and living wood of introduced broadleaf trees.
- Habitat
- Grows on dead and living wood of introduced broadleaf trees. Forms large, fan-shaped scaly brackets.
- Range
- Throughout North Island and northern South Island on introduced broadleaf trees in urban areas.
- Endemism
- Introduced
- Main Threats
- None significant. Localised threats include removal of old, decaying trees from urban parks.
- Population
- A large, scaly bracket fungus on dead and living wood of introduced broadleaf trees. Edible when young.
- Conservation Status
- Introduced
- Human Risk
- caution
- Handling Note
- inedible; do not ingest
- Conservation Note
- Introduced fungus; commonly found on deciduous trees in parks and gardens, not subject to conservation assessment.
- Te Ao Māori
- In European folklore, Dryad's Saddle was the seat of tree spirits. It was where the dryads would rest. In New Zealand, it has no traditional Māori significance. It is an introduced species. For mushroom foragers, it is a tasty find from Europe. The lack of traditional name reflects its origin. The modern recognition reflects its utility. The fungus remains an outsider. It is valued for its flavour. It is ignored by tradition. It grows regardless. The culture adapts. The fungus persists.
Dryad's Saddle is the scaly giant of the urban forest. A fungus that looks like a saddle for a forest spirit. The bracket measures ten to thirty centimetres across. It is fan-shaped. The colour is pale yellow to brown. Dark brown scales are arranged in concentric rings. It looks like a seat for a tree nymph. The underside is covered in large, angular pores. They are white to cream. They look like a honeycomb made by a giant bee. A fungus that belongs in a fairy tale. The appearance is mythical. The reality is biological.
When the mushroom is young and fresh, it has a strong, cucumber-like smell. This scent fills the air around it. Some people find it pleasant. Others find it odd. Either way, it is distinctive. Once known, it can be recognised from metres away. The olfactory cue is reliable. The identification is sensory. The memory is lasting.
Biologically, Dryad's Saddle is both a parasite and a saprotroph. It grows on the trunks of living trees. It enters through wounds in the bark. It slowly rots the heartwood from the inside out. It can take years to kill a tree. But eventually, the tree will fall. The fungus will continue to feed on the dead wood. The transition is seamless. The role shifts. The survival is assured.
Dryad's Saddle is edible when young. This is before the flesh becomes tough and woody. The young brackets have a soft, flexible texture. They have a mild, nutty flavour. They are good sautéed in butter. But they have to be caught early. Once they are fully grown, they are too tough to eat. The window is narrow. The reward is culinary. The timing is critical.
To find Dryad's Saddle is to find a piece of European folklore growing on a New Zealand tree. The urban park is quiet. The saddle grows on the trunk of an old oak. It is fan-shaped and scaly. It smells of cucumber. It does not know it is from Europe. It does not know it is edible when young. It just wants to rot the wood. The urban forest is never static. The saddle is proof.
The scales are dark. The pores are large. The smell is distinct. The taste is mild. The growth is rapid. The decay is steady. The tree weakens. The fungus thrives. The cycle continues. It carries on. It does not seek permission. It seeks substrate. And that seems to be enough.