Species map · Meripilus giganteus
Giant polypore map of Turkey: where and when it grows
Our map holds 19 verified records of the giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus) from 3 provinces of Turkey. Most come from İstanbul, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ; records peak in January, September and October.
- records
- 19
- provinces
- 3
- regions
- 1
- latest record
- Oct 2026
Records by province
- Marmara 19
Linked provinces have their own page with every species recorded there. Record density also reflects where observers work.
Which months?
This page covers only where and when the species is recorded in Turkey. For identification and edibility, see the species page. Built from research-grade, geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist records, refreshed at the start of every month.
Poisonous look-alikes of the giant polypore
- Hen of the woods Grifola frondosa Edible species
- Chicken of the woods Laetiporus sulphureus Edible species
- Bondarzewia mesenterica Bondarzewia mesenterica Inedible
- Dryad's saddle Cerioporus squamosus Edible species
Records by region: Marmara 19. Most records come from İstanbul, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ.
Records peak in January, September and October; about 89% of dated records fall in September–November and 0% in March–May.
The giant polypore appears in autumn and collapses after the first frosts. Our Turkish records fall in September, October and January, the great majority in October.
At the base of broadleaved trees, mostly beech but also oak and elm, on roots and stumps; rarely on conifers. It causes white rot in the roots. It is often seen at the foot of old trees in parks and gardens.
Hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa, edible): Hen of the woods also forms rosettes at tree bases, but its fronds are smaller, greyer and more numerous, its pores are larger and they do not blacken when handled.
Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus, edible): Chicken of the woods also forms large brackets, but it is bright sulphur-yellow to orange, usually grows higher on the trunk and does not blacken.
Bondarzewia mesenterica (Bondarzewia mesenterica, inedible): It grows mostly at the base of conifers; its pores are larger, it does not blacken when bruised and its flesh tastes bitter.
Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus, edible): Dryad's saddle grows on the trunk as one or a few large brackets, with a dark-scaled cap and a stem; it does not blacken.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the giant polypore grow in Turkey?
Most records come from İstanbul, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ.
When does the giant polypore fruit in Turkey?
Records peak in January, September and October.
Which province has the most giant polypore records?
İstanbul, followed by Kırklareli and Tekirdağ. The order also reflects where observers are active.
What habitat does the giant polypore prefer?
At the base of broadleaved trees, mostly beech but also oak and elm, on roots and stumps; rarely on conifers. It causes white rot in the roots. It is often seen at the foot of old trees in parks and gardens.
Can I pick mushrooms where they are recorded?
A record is not a permit. Commercial picking in state forests needs a permit; picking in national parks is prohibited.
How current is this map?
Records are re-fetched from GBIF and iNaturalist at the start of every month and this page updates automatically.
What should I do in case of mushroom poisoning?
Call 112 at once; Turkey's poison centre is 114.
Sources
- 6831 sayılı Orman Kanunu (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- 2873 sayılı Millî Parklar Kanunu, md. 14 (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- Uzun ve Kaya (2022), KSÜ Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi 25(1): Macromycetes Determined in Tonya (Trabzon) District dergipark.org.tr
All sources (6)
- GBIF ve iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlem kayıtları (sitemizin haritası) gbif.org
- Wikipedia (EN): Meripilus giganteus en.wikipedia.org
- First Nature: Meripilus giganteus, Giant Polypore first-nature.com
Data sources and licences
Observations from GBIF.org (human observations and herbarium specimens; records flagged with geospatial issues excluded) and iNaturalist research-grade records, retrieved 2 November 2026. Macrofungi only (Agaricomycetes, Pezizomycetes), named to species. Every point links to its own record, with the recorder and licence (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC).
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Province centres: Wikidata. Region comes from the record's GADM province, or the nearest province centre when missing. For protected species (iNaturalist "threatened" or IUCN VU/EN/CR) locations are rounded to ~10 km; locations obscured by iNaturalist are marked "approximate".
An observation shows that a mushroom was seen there on that day, not that it is there now or that it may be picked. Counts reflect how many people record fungi in an area more than how common a species is.
Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial teamReport a correction