Grifola frondosa
Grifola frondosa
Common Names: Maitake, Sheep’s Head, Ram’s Head
Type: Gourmet, Medicinal
If you are ever lucky enough to find Maitake in the woods, feel free to do your happy dance. That’s what ancient Japanese did when they stumbled upon it, and is also why it is known as the “dancing mushroom” in Japan.
Luckily, this delicious mushroom is widely cultivated- mostly in Asian countries, although it is becoming much more common in North America. Maitake can be grown in bottles and bags, developing tiny wrinkles which eventually develop into large folding bouquets.
The size of Maitake fruit bodies is highly correlated to the volume of substrate it grows on. When grown in bottles, it forms small fist-sized clusters, whereas when grown in larger bags, the fruits are significantly larger. Wild specimens have been found at over 100 lbs!
Maitake is one of the most interesting medicinal species, being studied for its ability to improve blood sugar levels in diabetes patients, among other medicinal applications.