Fungus · GBIF taxon 9072021
chicken of the woods
Laetiporus sulphureusAlso known as Sulphur Shelf, Sulphur Polypore, Chicken Fungus, Chicken Mushroom
Sulphur shelf fungi emerge as vibrant, overlapping clusters of fan-shaped brackets along the trunks and logs of hardwood trees. Their brilliant orange upper caps contrast with bright sulfur-yellow pores underneath, creating bright focal points in summer and autumn forests. As heart-rot decomposers, these organisms break down inner heartwood while contributing vital organic material back into woodland soils.
Bracket FungusSulphur-YellowForest Decomposer
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Hardwood Timber
- Heartwood Cellulose
- Lignin
Predators
- Fungus Beetles
- Fungus Gnat Larvae
- Slugs
ThreatsDeforestation and clear-cutting of old hardwood trees
HabitatsDeciduous forests, oak woodlands, parks
Life spanPerennial mycelium; individual fruiting bodies last several weeks
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPolyporales
- FamilyLaetiporaceae
- GenusLaetiporus
- SpeciesLaetiporus sulphureus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for vibrant orange-yellow brackets on living oaks or decaying logs during summer and fall.
- Identification: Check the underside for tiny pores rather than gills to confirm polypore structure.
- Forest Photography: Capture clusters in soft morning light before old brackets fade to dull grey.
Toxic Look-Alike (c) Jason Hollinger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Alicia Ballard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Co-occurring Fungus Lukas from London, England / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Sean Bloom, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sean Bloom · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain Pro
Secret Garden
chicken of the woods is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
Unlock to track progress
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.