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Laetiporus sulphureus
For the mushroom collector, this species can be easily spotted due to its typically large size and bright orange color which fades as the plant ages. The fungus can either live off dead, decaying trees as a saprophyte, or act as a parasite where it attacks and kills trees.
The mushroom’s body is very flat and resembles a rosette with a curled, irregular edge. It can grow in very large clusters which can weigh in excess of 50 lbs (22.6 kg). The underside of the cap is bright yellow and covered in tiny pores rather than “gills.”
This plant is often collected for food and is said to have a mild, chicken-like flavor. Although considered an edible species, it can cause allergic reactions in some people if it contains certain toxins absorbed from the rotting wood on which it grows. Anyone sampling this mushroom should do so in small amounts at first. There are also several forms of non-edible lookalikes for this species.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Most forms of mushroom are poisonous! No mushroom should be eaten unless you know exactly what you are doing or have an experienced, knowledgable person to guide you.
Distribution
This fungus will appear through the spring, summer and fall in mixed conifer-hardwood forests. It grows in overlapping masses measuring up to 10 inches (25 cm) across on decaying wood such as stumps and fallen trees. It is often called as “sulfur shelf” — a reference to its color and the fact that these lateral clusters resemble shelves.
The species can be found in hardwood forests throughout Europe and in North America, east of the Rocky Mountain Range.
Conservation Status
Common.
Laetiporus sulphureus
For the mushroom collector, this species can be easily spotted due to its typically large size and bright orange color which fades as the plant ages. The fungus can either live off dead, decaying trees as a saprophyte, or act as a parasite where it attacks and kills trees.
The mushroom’s body is very flat and resembles a rosette with a curled, irregular edge. It can grow in very large clusters which can weigh in excess of 50 lbs (22.6 kg). The underside of the cap is bright yellow and covered in tiny pores rather than “gills.”
This plant is often collected for food and is said to have a mild, chicken-like flavor. Although considered an edible species, it can cause allergic reactions in some people if it contains certain toxins absorbed from the rotting wood on which it grows. Anyone sampling this mushroom should do so in small amounts at first. There are also several forms of non-edible lookalikes for this species.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Most forms of mushroom are poisonous! No mushroom should be eaten unless you know exactly what you are doing or have an experienced, knowledgable person to guide you.
Distribution
This fungus will appear through the spring, summer and fall in mixed conifer-hardwood forests. It grows in overlapping masses measuring up to 10 inches (25 cm) across on decaying wood such as stumps and fallen trees. It is often called as “sulfur shelf” — a reference to its color and the fact that these lateral clusters resemble shelves.
The species can be found in hardwood forests throughout Europe and in North America, east of the Rocky Mountain Range.
Conservation Status
Common.