Boston Mycological Club

Bondarzewia berkeleyi (Fries) Singer

Other names:

Description:

Fleshy cream colors. Similar to Grifola frondosa, but generally lacking the grayish colors. The "fronds" also are more separate and less likely to interlock. If it blackens where handled or bruised, it's Meripilus sumstinei (aka Meripilus giganteus). B. berkeleyi is found on the roots of hardwood trees, this can grow to be quite large. Generally considered to have a bitter taste.

References:

Bessette - Mushrooms of Northeastern North America; page 385
Lincoff - Audubon Field Guide to North American Mushrooms; page 447
Barron - Mushrooms of Northeast North America; page 134
Phillips - Mushrooms of North America; page 255
Arora - Mushrooms Demystified; page 565 (in the comments under Bondarzewia montana)

Images:

Brought to BMC meeting; 7/30/2001