Chicken of the Woods

Laetiporus sulphureus

"Laetiporus sulphureus" is a species of bracket fungus found in Europe and North America. Its fruit bodies grow as striking golden-yellow shelf-like structures on tree trunks and branches. Old fruitbodies fade to pale beige or pale grey. The undersurface of the fruit body is made up of tubelike pores rather than gills.
Chicken-of-the-woods Wood fungi - Laetiporus sulphureus Agaricomycetes,Basidiomycota,Central Macedonia,Chicken-of-the-woods,Crab-of-the-woods,Europe,Fungi,Geotagged,Greece,Laetiporus sulphureus,Lake Kerkini National Park,Polyporaceae,Polyporales,Spring,Wildlife

Appearance

The fruiting body emerges directly from the trunk of a tree and is initially knob-shaped, but soon expands to fan-shaped shelves, typically growing in overlapping tiers. It is sulphur-yellow to bright orange in color and has a suedelike texture. Old fruitbodies fade to tan or whitish. Each shelf may be anywhere from 5 to 60 centimetres across and up to 4 cm thick. The fertile surface is sulphur-yellow with small pores or tubes and produces a white spore print. When fresh, the flesh is succulent with a strong fungal aroma and exudes a yellowish, transparent juice, but soon becomes dry and brittle.
Sulphur Shelf At The Hilton Area This is a picture of Sulphur Shelf at the Hilton Area of Patapsco Valley State Park in Baltimore County, Maryland. Baltimore County,Chicken Of The Woods,Geotagged,Laetiporus sulphureus,Maryland,Patapsco Valley State Park,Spring,Sulphur Shelf,United States

Naming

Its common names are crab-of-the-woods, sulphur polypore, sulphur shelf, and chicken-of-the-woods.
Sulphur Shelf This is a picture of Laetiporus sulphureus at Patapsco Valley State Park in Catonsville, Maryland. Chicken of the Woods,Fall,Geotagged,Laetiporus sulphureus,United States

Distribution

"Laetiporus sulphureus" is widely distributed across Europe and North America, although its range may be restricted to areas east of the Rockies. It grows on dead or mature hardwoods and has been reported from a very wide variety of host trees, such as "Quercus", "Prunus", "Pyrus", "Populus", "Salix", "Robinia", and "Fagus", occasionally also from conifers, from August to October or later, sometimes as early as June. In the Mediterranean region, this species is usually found on "Ceratonia" and "Eucalyptus". It can usually be found growing in clusters.
Sulfur Sporling A really beautiful bracket fungi - needs a cool fantasy name like "Fairy's Pillow" or something. Suggestions? Baden-Würtemburg,Geotagged,Germany,Laetiporus sulphureus,Summer,bracket fungus

Habitat

"Laetiporus sulphureus" is widely distributed across Europe and North America, although its range may be restricted to areas east of the Rockies. It grows on dead or mature hardwoods and has been reported from a very wide variety of host trees, such as "Quercus", "Prunus", "Pyrus", "Populus", "Salix", "Robinia", and "Fagus", occasionally also from conifers, from August to October or later, sometimes as early as June. In the Mediterranean region, this species is usually found on "Ceratonia" and "Eucalyptus". It can usually be found growing in clusters.

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