Dryad's Saddle
ExploreFungi
Dryad's Saddle
Cerioporus
The Dryad's Saddle is a mushroom that looks like a saddle! It grows on trees and has a unique shape.
Habitat: On trees
Appearance
The Dryad's Saddle is a large, fan- or kidney-shaped mushroom with a short, stout stalk. Its cap is creamy to light brown, covered in distinctive dark brown, flattened scales. The underside has large, angular, whitish pores.
KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderPolyporalesFamilyPolyporaceaeGenusCerioporus
Category
FungiRarity
Rare
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
69
Interesting facts
It's named after tree nymphs from Greek mythology!
Its scaly cap can sometimes resemble a snake's skin!
This mushroom often smells just like fresh watermelon or cucumber.
Young Dryad's Saddle can be sliced thin and cooked like bacon.
Special abilities
Ability
Nature's Recycler
Dryad's Saddle can break down tough dead wood, helping return vital nutrients to the forest soil.
Ability
Spore Shooter
This fungus has millions of tiny pores under its cap that release countless white spores to create new mushrooms.
Ability
Speedy Sprouter
Dryad's Saddle can grow surprisingly fast, sometimes appearing large in just a few days after rain.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 2-15 cm
- Edibility
- edible
- Cap Diameter
- 5-50 cm
- Growth Substrate
- wood
- Season
- Spring to fall
- Spore Color
- White
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Pheasant Back
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Dryad's Saddle?
The easiest way to identify Dryad's Saddle is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Dryad's Saddle?
2-15 cm
Is Dryad's Saddle edible?
edible
How big is Dryad's Saddle?
5-50 cm
Where is Dryad's Saddle usually found?
On trees
What does Dryad's Saddle grow on?
wood
When is Dryad's Saddle in season?
Spring to fall
What color are Dryad's Saddle spores?
White
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
Jun 6, 2026
Peninsula Village Historic Districti
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 4, 2026
Norwich Village Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Megan Massa, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 4, 2026
Rosedale Park Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) WF_MI, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 27, 2026
Days Ferry Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Doug Suitor, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Apr 28, 2026
Selmier State Foresti
Photo attribution
(c) Peyton Phelps, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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