"Ram's Head" redirects here. For the shoe, see pigache. For locations with that name, see Ram Head. For the military skill badge, see Ram's Head Device. For the head of the male animal, see sheep.
Grifola frondosa, also known as hen-of-the-woods, sheep's head,[2]ram's head, or maitake (舞茸, "dancing mushroom") in Japanese, is a polypore mushroom that grows at the base of trees, particularly old growth oaks or maples. It is native to China, Europe, and North America.
G. frondosa grows from an underground tuber-like structure known as a sclerotium, about the size of a potato.[2] The fruiting bodies form clumps up to 50cm (20in)[3] or rarely 150cm (60in).[citation needed] The mushrooms toughen as they mature.[1]
The caps are grayish-brown, often curled or spoon-shaped, with wavy margins and 2–10cm (1–4in) broad.[4] The undersurface of each cap bears about one to three pores per millimeter, with the tubes rarely deeper than 3mm (1⁄8in).[4] The cream-coloured stipe (stalk) has a branchy structure.[5] The spore print is white.[4]
In Japan, the maitake can grow to more than 45 kilograms (100 pounds).
It is native to China, Europe (August to October),[3] and eastern North America[7] (from September to October).[5]
It occurs most prolifically in eastern North America, but has been found as far west as Idaho.[2]
Like the sulphur shelf mushroom, G. frondosa is a perennial fungus that often grows in the same place for several years in succession.[citation needed]
Uses
The species is a choice edible mushroom,[8] especially the young caps when slow cooked, although some may be allergic to it.[2] The softer caps must be thoroughly cooked.[4] It can also be pickled.[2]
Maitake has been consumed for centuries in China and Japan[9] where it is one of the major culinary mushrooms.[citation needed] The mushroom is used in many Japanese dishes, such as nabemono.[citation needed]
According to a 2009 study, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from the species can serve as an immunomodulator for survivors of breast cancer with no apparent maximum dose, although the botanical source "may not produce optimal clinical effects".[11]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
