When I think of mushrooms, I usually imagine tiny, pale specimens growing in dark places close to the ground. I was startled, therefore, when I encountered this big, bold bright orange mushroom in plain view. The color was so vivid that I spotted it from a long way off and couldn’t help thinking at first that it looked like a smashed pumpkin.
It didn’t take too much searching on the internet to find this mushroom—its scientific name is Laetiporus sulphureus, but it is commonly known as the Chicken of the Woods mushroom. There are lots of recipes available for this edible mushroom, which can be sautéed, deep fried, baked, and may be used in soups.
I’m a chicken, though; when it comes to eating questionable things and don’t think I’d ever eat a mushroom that I encountered in the wild. The beautiful colors of this mushroom include the shades that I associate with autumn, which lets me enjoy it with my eyes, even if I won’t be putting it in my mouth.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great shots. Yeah, not eating that.
Thanks, Dan. I love the advice that I read in one article, which basically said you should eat a little and see if it makes you sick. Not me!
I’m glad you got to see them Mike. They are one of the most beautiful mushrooms, in my opinion. And also one of the biggest!
Wonderful…The detail and color captured in your photo really pops. Your posts are quite exceptional.
@Mike – that is great advise. Even if some varieties are edible, they can make you sick. Some people are just that way. Chicken of the Woods are plenty tasty though as are Hen of the Woods. A friend just brought me some Hen of the Woods that quickly made its way to the fry pan. Good stuff.
If you know what you are doing, I guess it’s probably safe, but I’m sticking with real chicken. I am always amused by the number of things that are said to taste like chicken–I’ve been told, for example, that snake tastes like chicken.
Hunting for fungi is one of the pleasures of autumn for me but, like you, I’d never dare eat one.
It’s amazing how quickly they spring up–I just noticed a new crop of little white mushrooms in my backyard this morning (it rained most of the day yesterday).
Love your pics! I’m actually wondering if this is the white pored variety which is a different species than Laetiporus sulphureus. Check out this write up: http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~12041.asp
Thanks, Heather, for the sharp eyes. I think you are correct that this is the white-pored variety (Laetiporus cincinnatus). As I went poking around on the internet, I found that the two varieties were originally considered a single species and that at a certain point in time were split into two.