Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf
ExploreFungi
Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf
laetiporus gilbertsonii
The Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf is a bright orange-yellow mushroom that looks like a shelf growing on trees! Kids will love spotting these fun fungi in the forest.
Habitat: It lives on decaying hardwood trees in forests.
Appearance
The Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf has vibrant, overlapping fan-shaped shelves that are bright orange-yellow on top and pale yellow underneath. It lacks traditional gills, instead releasing spores from tiny pores, and often appears in dramatic, cascading clusters.
KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderPolyporalesFamilyLaetiporaceaeGenusLaetiporus
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's sometimes called 'chicken of the woods' because of its unique texture and taste!
Look closely! The underside is covered in tiny pores, not gills, for spore release.
This mushroom often grows so large it could cover your backpack!
You might find these bright shelves growing many feet up a tree trunk!
Special abilities
Ability
Wood Wrecking Wonder
Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf can digest tough wood because of powerful enzymes that help them recycle forest nutrients.
Ability
Spore Spray Station
Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf has a layered, shelf-like growth that helps them spread millions of spores wide.
Ability
Color Calling Card
Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf has brilliant, eye-catching colors that may signal its presence to hungry animals.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-30 cm
- Edibility
- edible
- Cap Diameter
- 10-60 cm
- Growth Substrate
- wood
- Season
- Summer, Fall
- Spore Color
- White
Ecological connections
Traits
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Laetiporus
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always ask an adult before touching or eating wild mushrooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf?
5-30 cm
Is Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf edible?
edible
How big is Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf?
10-60 cm
Where is Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf usually found?
It lives on decaying hardwood trees in forests.
What does Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf grow on?
wood
When is Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf in season?
Summer, Fall
What color are Western Hardwood Sulphur Shelf spores?
White
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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