Chicken of the Woods
If you see a bright orange and yellow shelf fungus on a living or dead tree, chances are that it is Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus). It can grow in fairly impressive clumps of up to 100 pounds. The pictured shelves of this fungus extend well over 20 feet along the rotting tree trunk, and this was only half of total amount present. Chicken of the Woods doesn’t appear until well after the fungus has attacked the tree, and because it causes heart rot, the center of the living tree on which it grows is often hollow. Young Chicken of the Woods (particularly the growing edge of the fruiting body) is considered a great find by fungi foragers, as its taste resembles chicken – hence, its common name. Although it’s been considered one of the “foolproof four” fungi that can be eaten, similar species have recently been found which are not edible, so some people advise foraging with caution. (Thanks to Hilary Hamilton for photo op.)
Hi Mary, I have a great photo of Indian Pipe Mushroom, I would be happy to share with you.If you are interested, please let me know how to send this. Love your site !!
October 2, 2012 at 1:41 pm
What a wonderful find! They seem to be quite common this season.
Loved seeing your dog peeking over the log.
October 2, 2012 at 1:50 pm
I was wondering if anyone would notice Emma! Good eyes!
October 2, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Wow. That’s enough to last the winter, if ightly sautéed, bagged, and stored in the freeezer. From a jealous follower of your posts.
October 2, 2012 at 2:41 pm
have you, or are you going to fry it up, Mary?
October 2, 2012 at 4:28 pm
I did take a wee bit, but it was mostly too old to be appetizing, unfortunately.
October 2, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Yes. You need to gather chicken of the woods as soon as possible after it emerges, if you plan to eat it.
October 2, 2012 at 8:26 pm
This is a striking mushroom. I just wrote a post about my first experience eating it — delicious! http://joshfecteau.com/chicken-of-the-woods/
October 2, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Share? I am over in Windsor and love Chicken in the Woods!
October 2, 2012 at 10:45 pm
I’d love to share, Cecelia, but I’m afraid it’s too old to be good eating, plus it’s on private land (I don’t know whose) so I hesitate to send anyone there. Sorry to be a stick in the mud!
October 3, 2012 at 12:59 am
It’s funny I just harvested about 10 pounds the other day as well. Love the lab peering over the on the backside…:-)
October 3, 2012 at 12:05 am
I was backpacking with a friend on the AT in North Carolina several years ago and came across a Cherokee Native harvesting Hen of the Woods mushrooms or fungus(?) from around the trunk of a tree. It was white and quite beautiful. He said he and his wife use it in a variety of recipes including spaghetti sauce which they freeze and have all winter long. Is this from the same family?
October 5, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Hi Llyn,
They are both in the same order (Polyporales), but not the same family. Both are polypores, and both are edible when young. Hen of the woods is sold as a supplement, and is eaten around the world wherever it grows. Nice that you met up with someone familiar with it! Mary
October 5, 2012 at 4:53 pm