Grifola frondosa (Dicks. ex Fr.) S. F. Gray Klapperschwamm, Laubporling Polypore en touffe, Poule des bois, Hen of the Woods, Maitake. Fruit Body 15–40cm diameter, subglobose, consisting of a central repeatedly branched stem, each branch ending in a flattened tongue-shaped cap; each cap 4–10cm across, 0.5–1cm thick, leathery and wavy at the margin, upper surface usually wrinkled, grey or olivaceous drying brownish. Stem cream or pale greyish. Flesh white. Taste pleasant when young and fresh, soon acrid, smell reminiscent of mice. Tubes 2–3mm long on the underside of each cap, and decurrent far down the stem, whitish. Pores two per mm, subcircular to slightly angular, larger and more irregular on the stem. Spores ellipsoid, 5.5–7 x 3.5–4.5um. Hyphal structure monomitic; generative hyphae with clamp connections. Habitat parasitic on deciduous trees especially oak and beech fruiting at the extreme base of the trunk. Season autumn. Uncommon. Edible. Distribution, America and Europe.