Laetiporus sulphureus

Also known as Sulphur Polypore, Sulphur Shelf, Chicken Mushroom, Chicken of the Woods

Bright sulfur-yellow to vivid orange shelves cascade down the trunks of mature oak and other deciduous trees from late spring through autumn. Operating as both a parasite that induces brown heart rot in living trees and a saprotroph that breaks down dead wood, this bracket fungus plays a critical role in forest nutrient cycling. Fresh fruiting structures feature soft, fan-shaped caps with vibrant yellow pore surfaces underneath rather than traditional gills.