EDIBLE when very young only: Only tender young specimens (under 4 inches) with soft texture are worth eating - they have cucumber-like flavor. Older specimens rapidly become tough and inedible like rubber or leather. Must harvest at button stage for eating. Cook thoroughly. The strong cucumber smell is distinctive. Generally safe but window of edibility is very brief. Most encountered specimens are too old and tough to eat.
Large fan-shaped bracket 4-12 inches wide with distinctive cream to tan surface covered in dark brown overlapping scales resembling pheasant feathers. White to cream large angular pores underneath. Thick, off-center black-brown stem (when growing from vertical surfaces). Strong cucumber or watermelon rind odor. Soft when young, tough with age. Very distinctive scaly pattern.
| Family | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Genus | Cerioporus |
| Edibility | Edible* |
| Toxicity | unknown |
| Season | Apr-Jul |
| Habitat | Saprobic on dead and dying hardwood trees, stumps, and logs, particularly elm, maple, ash, willow, and box elder. Causes white rot. Forms large brackets on trunks, branches, and fallen logs. Common on standing dead elms and other hardwoods in urban and forest settings. |
| Region | Eastern North America, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes region, Widespread across North America, Europe and Asia |
Habitat: Saprobic on dead and dying hardwood trees, stumps, and logs, particularly elm, maple, ash, willow, and box elder. Causes white rot. Forms large brackets on trunks, branches, and fallen logs. Common on standing dead elms and other hardwoods in urban and forest settings.
Region: Eastern North America, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes region, Widespread across North America, Europe and Asia
Spring through summer, typically April-July. Peak fruiting in May-June. One of the earliest large polypores. Short fruiting window - appears rapidly in spring. Can flush again in fall.
Typical months: Apr-Jul
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species. The differentiator is the point — learn the one or two tells that separate them:
very distinctive
Pin the patch before you leave it. Coordinates, photos, and field notes stay on your device — and the offline lookalike guide travels with you into the deep woods.
Download Mushroom TrackerDisclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Never consume a wild mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identification.