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White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods
ExploreFungi
White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods
laetiporus cincinnatus
The White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods is a bright orange-yellow mushroom that looks like a chicken's drumstick! It grows on trees and is fun to find during a nature walk.
Habitat: It lives on the trunks of hardwood trees, especially oak and cherry.
Appearance
The White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods has bright orange to yellow-orange shelf-like fruiting bodies that grow in rosettes. Its underside is covered with tiny white pores, distinguishing it from other similar orange fungi. It usually appears at the base of hardwood trees.
KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderPolyporalesFamilyLaetiporaceaeGenusLaetiporus
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
It bursts out of buried tree roots, not just trunks!
Its bright orange color helps tell forest friends it's here!
This mushroom can grow huge, weighing many kilograms!
Unlike many fungi, it has tiny pores underneath, not gills!
Special abilities
Ability
Wood Worker Wonder
The White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods can break down dead wood because it releases special enzymes that help recycle nutrients.
Ability
Acid Attack
It has the ability to produce oxalic acid that helps it decompose tough wood, making it easier to digest.
Ability
Color Signal
This fungus has vibrant orange colors that may help deter certain animals or signal its presence in the forest.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-30 cm
- Edibility
- edible
- Cap Diameter
- 10-60 cm
- Growth Substrate
- wood
- Season
- Late spring to fall
- Spore Color
- White
Ecological connections
parasitizes
White Oak
Quercus alba
often grows on the roots and base
parasitizes
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
can be found growing on live trees
parasitizes
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
a common host tree in eastern forests
eaten by
Leopard Slug
Limax maximus
slugs often graze on its soft tissues
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
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.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Also known as
Sulfur Shelf
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Some mushrooms can be poisonous, so always ask an adult before touching or eating them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods?
5-30 cm
Is White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods edible?
edible
How big is White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods?
10-60 cm
Where is White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods usually found?
It lives on the trunks of hardwood trees, especially oak and cherry.
What does White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods grow on?
wood
When is White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods in season?
Late spring to fall
What color are White-Pored Chicken Of The Woods spores?
White
Snap Map
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