Chicken of the Woods
Loading...
Authors
Keefer, Mason
Issue Date
2024
Type
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Spring 2024 STEM Photo Contest
Description
In nature (for the most part), a brightly colored organism means it is toxic. But that is simply not the case for this fungus. This is Laetiporus Sulphureus, also known as sulphur shelf, the chicken mushroom, or chicken of the woods. As the name suggests, this mushroom has a high sulfur content. The sulfur content may play a part in its chicken-like flavor. This mushroom grows in shelf-like clusters or in a floret pattern like the picture shown. Caps can range from a few inches to a foot across! The cap is bright orange on the top. In this particular species, the cap has a bright yellow porous underside that looks smooth. Its internal flesh is white. It typically grows from late spring through fall. The only look a-likes are the chanterelle mushroom, which grows singly on the ground and is also edible, and the toxic jack o lantern mushroom that has an orange gilled underside and can glow in the dark! The chicken of the woods is a hidden gem in the woods of the U.S. If you wish to eat a wild mushroom, seek a professional to ensure it is safe to do so.