Meripilus giant (Meripilus giganteus)
- Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (of uncertain position)
- Order: Polyporales (Polypore)
- Family: Meripilaceae (Meripilaceae)
- Genus: Meripilus (Meripilus)
- Type: Meripilus giganteus (Giant meripilus)
A very beautiful outwardly mushroom that usually grows at the roots of deciduous trees.
The fruit body is made up of numerous caps, which are kept below on one common base.
Hats the meripilus is very thin, there may be small scales on the surface. To the touch – slightly velvety. The color range – from a reddish tint to brown and brown. There are also concentric grooves, notches. Towards the edges, the hat has a wavy shape, while slightly curving.
Legs as such, no, the caps are held on a shapeless base.
Pulp white mushroom, has a slightly sweet taste. When broken in air, it very quickly acquires a red color, and then darkens.
The peculiarity is that the hats are similar to semicircular plates, located very tightly one to the other. In general, the mass of the fruiting body in large specimens of the giant meripilus can reach 25-30 kg.
Споры white.
The mushroom belongs to the category of edible species, but only young meripilus are recommended for food, as they have soft and tender flesh.
Grows from June to late autumn. The usual places of growth are the roots of deciduous trees (especially beech and oak).