Chicken of the Woods – Laetiporus sulphureus

Common name: Chicken of the Woods

Scientific name: Laetiporus sulphureus

Introduction: Chicken of the Woods is a bracket fungus that gained its name due to its texture and for having a taste that resembles the likes of chicken. They typically form in shelves.

Identification

Cap: Between 10-40cm and varies in colour from a rich yellow to a muted, creamy yellow with pink-orange bands. Young brackets are soft and spongy with wavy-edges. The brackets begin with broad edges, but as they mature, they become thinner and paler. 

Pores: White or a muted-yellow. Small round/oval tubes found underneath the brackets. 

Stem: Chicken of the Woods have no stems. 

Spores: White.

Flesh: Yellow-orange when young and oozes liquid if squeezed. Older Chicken of the Woods’ flesh is a paler yellow and is drier. 

Group: Polyporaceae.

Habitat: Chicken of the Woods typically grow high-up on decaying trees between the summer and autumn months. They are most commonly found on Oak trees, as well as on Sweet Chestnut, Beech and occasionally Willow and Yew trees. 

Ecological Importance: They are saprobic, meaning they feed on dead or hardwood timber. Occasionally, Chicken of the Woods can cause ‘brown-cubical rot’ to occur on its host tree.