EDIBLE when very young but not recommended: Only tender young buttons are palatable - rapidly becomes tough and leathery. Even young specimens have chewy texture requiring extensive cooking or drying and powdering. Small size and toughness make it not worth harvesting. Generally safe but unpalatable due to texture. The distinctive serrated gill edges and tiger-striped cap are unique. Better edible mushrooms available.
Small to medium mushroom with white cap 1-3 inches wide covered in concentric rings of brown to black scales giving tiger-stripe appearance. White serrated (saw-toothed) gills - diagnostic feature. Central white stem 1-3 inches tall, often scaly. Has GILLS with distinctive serrated edges, not pores. Grows on hardwood. Tough, leathery texture. Distinctive tiger-striped pattern.
| Family | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Genus | Lentinus |
| Edibility | Edible* |
| Toxicity | unknown |
| Season | May-Oct |
| Habitat | Saprobic on dead hardwood including logs, stumps, branches, and woody debris, particularly willow, alder, poplar, and other riparian hardwoods. Common along streams and rivers. Prefers wet or waterlogged wood. Often on small branches and twigs. Causes white rot. |
| Region | Eastern North America, Pacific Northwest, Widespread across North America, Great Lakes region, Riparian areas nationwide, Cosmopolitan distribution |
Habitat: Saprobic on dead hardwood including logs, stumps, branches, and woody debris, particularly willow, alder, poplar, and other riparian hardwoods. Common along streams and rivers. Prefers wet or waterlogged wood. Often on small branches and twigs. Causes white rot.
Region: Eastern North America, Pacific Northwest, Widespread across North America, Great Lakes region, Riparian areas nationwide, Cosmopolitan distribution
Spring through fall, typically May-October. Peak in summer. Most common in warm, wet weather. Can appear year-round in mild climates. Fruits prolifically during humid periods.
Typical months: May-Oct
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species. The differentiator is the point — learn the one or two tells that separate them:
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.