An underside view of a polyporus squamosus (Drads saddle) with the small pores visible that the plant uses to aid respiration.

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Polyporus squamosus fungi has the interesting name of Dryads saddle because legend has it, tree dwelling nymphs known as dryads emerge at night from their perch and use the fungi as a seat or 'saddle'. It is also called Pheasants back because of the resemblance to the appearance of the feathers of the bird.

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Size: 3600px × 4800px
Location: Toronto Ontario Canada
Photo credit: © Steven Chadwick / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bark, damaged, damp, debris, decaying, dryads, edible, forest, fungi, fungii, fungus, growth, moist, mushroom, myco-heterotrophs, parasite, parasitic, patterned, pheasants, plant, polyporus, rotting, saddle, shade, spores, spring, squamosus, toronto, tree, trunk, wet, woods