Sulphur-yellow polypore (Laetiporus sulphureus)
- Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (of uncertain position)
- Order: Polyporales (Polypore)
- Family: Fomitopsidaceae (Fomitopsis)
- Genus: Laetiporus
- Type: Laetiporus sulphureus (Sulfur-yellow polypore)
- chicken mushroom
- mushroom chicken
- Witch’s Sulfur
- To his hand
- Witch’s Sulfur
- To his hand
The fruiting body of the sulfur-yellow tinder fungus:
At the first stage of development, the sulfur-yellow tinder fungus is a drop-shaped (or even “bubble-shaped”) yellowish mass – the so-called “influx form”. It looks like dough has escaped from somewhere inside the tree through cracks in the bark. Then the fungus gradually hardens and acquires a form more characteristic of tinder fungus – a cantilever, formed by several fused pseudo-caps. The older the mushroom, the more isolated the “caps”. The color of the fungus changes from pale yellow to orange and even pinkish-orange as it develops. The fruit body can reach very large sizes – each “hat” grows up to 30 cm in diameter. The pulp is elastic, thick, juicy, yellowish in youth, later – dry, woody, almost white.
Spore layer:
Hymenophore, located on the underside of the “cap”, finely porous, sulfur-yellow.
Spore powder of sulfur-yellow tinder fungus:
Pale yellow.
Spread:
Sulfur yellow polypore grows from mid-May to autumn on the remains of trees or on living, weakened hardwood trees. The first layer (May-June) is the most abundant.
Similar species:
A fungus growing on coniferous trees is sometimes considered as an independent species (Laetiporus conifericola). This variety should not be eaten as it can cause mild poisoning, especially in children.
Meripilus giganteus, which is considered a low-quality edible mushroom, is distinguished not by its bright yellow, but by its brownish color and white flesh.
Video about the fungus Polypore sulfur-yellow
