Laetiporus sulphureus

Chicken of the Woods

Scientific identification: Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.) Murrill
Family: Fomitopsidaceae
Class: Agaricomycetes
Genus: Laetiporus

Names across languages

English: Chicken of the Woods
German: Schwefelporling
Estonian: Vääveltorik
Russian: Трутовик серно-жёлтый
French: Polypore soufré

The scientific profile

From the latest record: 2024-07-31.

Hymenium

pores on hymenium, small and round, bright yellow to orange

Cap

cap is shelf-like, semicircular to fan-shaped, bright yellow to orange, often in overlapping clusters

Hymenium

hymenium is tubular (composed of tubes instead of gills)

Stipe

stipe is not typically present, as this fungus grows directly from the wood in a shelf-like manner

Spore print

spore print is white to pale yellow

Ecology

ecology is saprotrophic and sometimes parasitic, typically found on deciduous trees, especially oak, but sometimes also on conifers

Edibility

tasty when young and tender, but becomes tough and inedible with age

Fruit body

individual shelves can be 5-40 cm across

Overview

Known for its bright yellow to orange colors and its chicken-like taste and texture when young. It is a popular edible mushroom, but caution is advised as some individuals may have an allergic reaction to it. It's best eaten when the fruiting bodies are young and tender. Older specimens can become tough and unpalatable. It's also advised to thoroughly cook this mushroom before consumption.

1920). Mycologia 12(1): 11.