Chicken of the Woods

Description:

Laetiporus sulphureus is a species of bracket fungus (fungus that grows on trees) found in Europe and North America. Its common names are sulphur polypore, sulphur shelf, and chicken of the woods. Its fruit bodies grow as striking golden-yellow shelf-like structures on tree trunks and branches. Like other bracket fungi, they may last many years and fade to pale grey or brown. The undersurface of the fruit body is made up of tubelike pores rather than gills. Laetiporus sulphureus is a saprophyte and causes brown cubical rot in the heartwood of trees on which it grows. Unlike many bracket fungi, it is edible when young.

Habitat:

Laetiporus sulphureus is widely distributed across Europe and North America though may be restricted to east of the Rockies. The mushroom grows on dead or mature hardwoods such as oak, cherry and beech from August to October or later, sometime as early as June. The species can also be found under conifers. It can usually be found growing in clusters.

Notes:

Found growing on live conifers.