Maitake, also known as Hen of the Woods, is a wild mushroom found throughout the temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia. Maitake is the Japanese name for this mushroom. Unlike many mushrooms, it is a fairly easy to identify and can hardly be mistaken for something else. Crimped, layered fronds spread over four inches across and resemble a fungal rose of sorts. Finding maitake mushrooms is easy if you look in the right places.
Instructions
1. Wait until September or October to begin your hunt. The maitake is one of the last edible mushrooms available before the cold weather sets in.
2. Consult your field guide to must familiarize yourself with the maitake. You'll recognize the mushroom in the field if you keep a sharp eye out. In addition, learn to identify the common host trees the maitake grows on. Oak, persimmon, plum and apricot are all potential homes for this species of mushroom.
3. Go for a long walk in the woods. You'll need to be in a temperate zone, and the farther north in that zone you are the more maitake will be present.
4. Look at the base of the most common host trees. The maitake grow right at the point where the trunk meets the ground. If you see a spot of texture that doesn't match up with the tree bark, get a closer look. This mushroom can camouflage itself and take on a wide variety of colors. Many people miss great mushrooms each year because they look only for light-tan specimens and skip dark brown ones.
5. Cut the stem of the maitake right at the base and place it gently in your foraging sack. Prepare any way you like; maitake is one of the more tasty and versatile mushrooms.
Tags: common host, common host trees, host trees, host trees maitake, trees maitake