Polyporus squamosus Huds. ex Fr. Schuppiger Porling Polypore écailleux, Dryad’s Saddle. Bracket 5–60cm across, 0.5–5cm thick, initially circular or fan-shaped, ochraceous-cream covered in concentric dark brown fibrillose scales. Stem 30–100 x 20–60mm, lateral or occasionally off-centre, blackish towards the base. Flesh 1–3cm thick, succulent when fresh, drying corky, white. Smell strongly of meal. Tubes 5–10mm long, decurrent down the stem, white to creamy. Pores 1–3 x 0.5–1.5mm, irregular and angular, whitish to ochraceous-cream. Spores white, oblong-ellipsoid, 10–15 x 4–5um. Hyphal structure dimitic with generative and binding hyphae; generative hyphae with clamp-connections. Habitat parasitic on deciduous trees, especially elm, beech and sycamore, causing intensive white rot. Season spring to summer, annual. Common. Edible when still young and soft. Distribution, America and Europe. Kelly Preedy has sent me these interesting photographs of the fungus coming up from the roots below ground, this is a little unusual normally it will grow from the trunk of the tree, also her specimens came up very early -note the cherry blossom on the ground around them. Many thanks for these pictures Kelly.