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Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), whole fruiting body
Darren Obbard · CC BY 4.0
Edible species

Dryad’s saddle

Cerioporus squamosus · Polyporaceae

Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus) is a large, fan- or saddle-shaped bracket fungus that grows on the trunks and stumps of living or dead broadleaved trees.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial team7 sources checkedReport a correction

FamilyPolyporaceae
SeasonApr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Spore printWhite
Cap width8–30 cm
Stem length3–12 cm
Records in Turkey20 records
CultivationWild only
StatusEdible species

Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus) is a large, fan- or saddle-shaped bracket fungus that grows on the trunks and stumps of living or dead broadleaved trees. Its cream cap is covered in dark brown scales, the underside has pores rather than gills, and it has a short, off-centre stem. It can be eaten cooked while young and soft; older brackets turn tough and are often full of maggots. Freshly cut, it smells of watermelon rind.

Also called: pheasant's back mushroom, scaly polypore Turkish: Pullu mantar Synonyms: Polyporus squamosus

Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), in its natural habitat

How to recognise it

Dryad’s saddle, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: White Pleasant and mealy when freshly cut, often compared to watermelon rind or cucumber.

Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), cap seen from above
Cap8–30 cm, occasionally up to 60 cm, fan- or saddle-shaped; flattened dark brown scales arranged in concentric rings on a cream to yellowish background. The margin is thin and inrolled when young.
Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), pores under the cap, seen from below
PoresNo gills; white to cream, angular, fairly large pores. The pore surface runs down onto the stem.
Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), stem and stem base
StemShort and thick (3–12 cm × 1.5–3.5 cm), attached off-centre or at the side; pale above and blackish at the base.

When and where

Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Aprin season
  5. Mayin season
  6. Junin season
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sepin season
  10. Octin season
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Dryad's saddle fruits mostly in spring and sometimes in autumn. Our Turkish records fall in April, May, June, September and October, most in October and April.

Type Edible

In season AprilMayJuneSeptemberOctober

Colour Brown

Regions Eastern Anatolia RegionBlack Sea RegionCentral Anatolia RegionAegean RegionMarmara RegionSinopAnkaraKastamonuIstanbul

Where does dryad's saddle grow?

Broadleaved trees, especially elm, maple, poplar, willow, beech and mulberry; it decays dead wood and sometimes acts as a weak parasite on living trees. It grows singly or in overlapping tiers on trunks, stumps and fallen logs, and is common on park and street trees.

Where is dryad's saddle found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 20 Turkish records: 8 from Istanbul, 5 from Ankara, 2 from Gümüşhane and one each from Eskişehir, Kastamonu, Kütahya, Muş and Sinop. It has also been published from Akdamar in Van (Kılıç and Keleş, 2025, Anatolian Journal of Botany), Çamlı village in Trabzon (Keleş and Kaya, 2023) and Yenice in Karabük (Kaşık et al., 2022).

Which months

  1. Jan0
  2. Feb0
  3. Mar0
  4. Apr6
  5. May3
  6. Jun2
  7. Jul0
  8. Aug0
  9. Sep2
  10. Oct7
  11. Nov0
  12. Dec0

dryad's saddle map of Turkey: all provinces and months →

8 provinces, 20 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest dryad's saddle observations

On "illustrative" cards the image is a photo of the species; the observation photo cannot be shown here because of its licence, but can be seen at the source.

Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

Dryad’s saddle can be mistaken for the species below. Each card shows the look-alike and how it differs from Dryad’s saddle.

Dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus), whole fruiting body
This species Dryad’s saddle
Tuberous polypore (Polyporus tuberaster) Inedible

not Dryad’s saddle

Tuberous polypore Polyporus tuberaster

It is smaller, with a rounder cap, a more central stem and scales that are dark only at the tips; it often rises from an underground tuber (sclerotium).

Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), whole fruiting body Edible species

not Dryad’s saddle

Chicken of the woods Laetiporus sulphureus

Chicken of the woods also grows in tiers on trees, but it is bright sulphur-yellow to orange, has no scales and no stem.

Giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus), whole fruiting body Inedible

not Dryad’s saddle

Giant polypore Meripilus giganteus

The giant polypore forms huge rosettes at the base of trees, on the roots; it has no scales and its pores blacken when handled.

Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), whole fruiting body Inedible

not Dryad’s saddle

Glistening inkcap Coprinellus micaceus

The names are similar in Turkish but the fungi are not: the glistening ink cap is a small, brown, gilled mushroom that grows in clusters at stump bases, with glittery granules on the cap. Dryad's saddle is a large bracket with pores.

How to cook and eat dryad's saddle

Safety first. Dryad's saddle is eaten only when young, soft and free of maggots, and always well cooked, never raw. Old, tough or maggoty brackets are not collected. Try a small amount the first time; as with any wild mushroom, individual reactions are possible. Do not eat it unless you are sure of the identification. If poisoning is suspected, call poison control and keep any leftover mushroom.

How to prepare it

Use only young, soft, maggot-free ones and slice them into small pieces.

How to cook it

Never eat it raw; cook it thoroughly over a low heat.

Source: Wikipedia.

How to store dryad's saddle

Fresh · fridge3–7 daysKeep fresh dryad's saddle unwashed in a paper bag in the fridge; delicate species are at the short end. Source
FrozenA few monthsFreeze dryad's saddle cooked, not raw: sauté and cool them first. Source
DriedA few months – 1 yearKeep dried dryad's saddle in an airtight jar in a cool, dry, dark place. Source

How to store mushrooms: the full guide →

What it contains

The soft edge of young brackets is sliced thinly and cooked slowly over low heat; older brackets turn tough and lose flavour.

General information, not a health claim.

Grow it, buy it

Dryad's saddle price list

Dryad's saddle price list
ProductUsMarket (sourced, dated)
Fresh dryad's saddleMade to order · ask—
Dried dryad's saddleMade to order · ask—

We make our dryad's saddle products in small batches, to order; send a request and we email you the price and delivery date. The market column shows prices seen on other sellers' pages on the date given; they are not our prices and may have changed.

Mushroom grow kits →

Frequently asked questions

Is dryad's saddle edible?

Yes, when young and soft and thoroughly cooked. Old, tough or maggoty brackets are not eaten, and it is never eaten raw.

Is dryad's saddle poisonous?

It is not known to be poisonous, and none of its bracket look-alikes are deadly, but do not eat it unless you are sure of the identification.

How do you cook dryad's saddle?

Slice the soft edge of a young bracket thinly and discard the tough stem; sauté it slowly in fat over low heat, or cook it in soups and stews.

Is it the same as the glistening ink cap?

No. Dryad's saddle (Turkish: pullu mantar) is a large pored bracket on trees. The glistening ink cap (Turkish: pullu mürekkep mantarı, Coprinellus micaceus) is a small brown gilled mushroom growing in clusters at stump bases.

Why does it smell of watermelon?

Most sources compare the smell of the freshly cut flesh to watermelon rind or cucumber, which helps with identification.

Does it harm the tree?

It causes white rot in the wood. It mostly lives on dead or weakened trees and sometimes acts as a weak parasite on living ones.

Where and when does it grow?

On the trunks and stumps of broadleaved trees such as elm, maple, poplar, willow and beech, mostly in spring and sometimes in autumn.

Where is it found in Turkey?

Our map data holds 20 records from Istanbul, Ankara, Gümüşhane, Eskişehir, Kastamonu, Kütahya, Muş and Sinop, with published records from Van, Trabzon and Karabük too.

When is dryad's saddle season in Turkey?

In our calendar, dryad's saddle season runs Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Dryad's saddle fruits mostly in spring and sometimes in autumn. Our Turkish records fall in April, May, June, September and October, most in October and April.

Where does dryad's saddle grow?

Broadleaved trees, especially elm, maple, poplar, willow, beech and mulberry; it decays dead wood and sometimes acts as a weak parasite on living trees. It grows singly or in overlapping tiers on trunks, stumps and fallen logs, and is common on park and street trees.

Where is dryad's saddle found in Turkey?

Our map data (GBIF and iNaturalist) holds 20 Turkish records: 8 from Istanbul, 5 from Ankara, 2 from Gümüşhane and one each from Eskişehir, Kastamonu, Kütahya, Muş and Sinop. It has also been published from Akdamar in Van (Kılıç and Keleş, 2025, Anatolian Journal of Botany), Çamlı village in Trabzon (Keleş and Kaya, 2023) and Yenice in Karabük (Kaşık et al., 2022).

What can dryad's saddle be confused with?

Dryad's saddle can be confused with tuberous polypore (Polyporus tuberaster, inedible), chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus, edible species), giant polypore (Meripilus giganteus, inedible) and glistening ink cap (Coprinellus micaceus, inedible). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is dryad's saddle called in Turkish?

In Turkish, dryad's saddle (Cerioporus squamosus) is called Pullu mantar.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Kılıç ve Keleş (2025), Anatolian Journal of Botany 9(2): Macrofungi determined in Akdamar (Gevaş-Van) district and its close environs dergipark.org.tr
  2. Keleş ve Kaya (2023), Anatolian Journal of Botany 7(2): Macromycetes determined in Çamlı (Of-Trabzon) village and its environs dergipark.org.tr
  3. Kaşık ve ark. (2022), KSÜ Tarım ve Doğa Dergisi 25(6): Macrofungi of Yenice (Karabük) District and New Records for Turkey dergipark.org.tr
All sources (7)
  1. Wikipedia (EN): Cerioporus squamosus en.wikipedia.org
  2. First Nature: Polyporus squamosus, Dryad's Saddle first-nature.com
  3. iNaturalist: Cerioporus squamosus (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org
  4. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Photo credits (8)