Meripilus giganteus (Pers. ex Fr.) Karst. syn. Polyporus giganteus Pers. ex Fr. syn. Grifola gigantea (Pers. ex Fr.) Pilát Riesen-Porling Polypore gêant, Giant Polypore. Fruit body 50–80cm across, rosette-like, consisting of numerous flattened fan-shaped caps around a common base. Each cap 10–30cm across, 1–2cm thick, covered in very fine brown scales on the upper surface which is radially grooved and concentrically zoned light and darker brown; attached to the common base by a short stem. Flesh white, soft and fibrous. Taste slightly sour, smell pleasant. Tubes 4–6mm long, whitish. Pores 3–4 per mm, subcircular, whitish, often late in forming, bruising blackish. Spores hyaline, broadly ovate to subglobose, 5.5–6.5 x 4.5–5um. Hyphal structure monomitic; generative hyphae lacking clamps. Habitat at the base of deciduous trees or stumps or some distance from them arising from the roots usually on beech but sometimes also on oak. Season autumn, annual. Frequent. Edible, it may have a slight sour taste and fibrous texture, but is good when young. Distribution, America and Europe.