Fungus ID

[BTL]

Can anyone identify this? Found in West Central MN this past July. Not an edible is it?

[Deitz Dittrich]

sure looks like a chicken mushroom/sulfer shelf to me.

[pushbutton]

I agree. They come in a few forms and variation of color from pale yellow to bright orange. The one you have is the more bulbous one, some are more shelf like, with others kind of being a combination of the two. Tell tale is they will be on or near an oak tree. Key is to pick them early enough as they seem to be more tender. If picking a more mature specimen, the outer portion is the most edible part.

[BTL]

Very cool, thanks for the info guys. Wish I had known it was edible at the time.

[Deitz Dittrich]

just have to be sure its on hard wood, if its growing on pine it can make you sick..

[dewey1]

looks like a wide range of color and shape. What are the fakes out there?

[pushbutton]

Suppose some nasty tasting, darn near petrified, but not poisonous shelf type shroom could be mistaken for one that is not as colorful like in the 3rd photo. For the more orange and sulfur yellowish variations, suppose the very poisonous jack o lantern could also be mistaken, but is a stem, cap, and gill type mushroom, unlike the chickens that are void of those characteristics. About the only thing in common is they are orange and grow on wood. But, yes, do be careful, and research before consuming anything until your comfortable with an ID.

[BTL]

So is it likely that there will be more of these in this same area, or even on the same tree, next year? I didn't pick this one.

[pushbutton]

Yes, and no. Their spores take something like 2 or 3 years to fully "germinate" and need suitable conditions for that to happen......whatever they may be. Have see a tree loaded one year and nothing the next year. Would certainly hit up that spot again though, they will generally be in the same areas.

[Matt Breuer]

Put that tree in the memory bank... pushbutton is over-analyzing all of your questions...

[Deitz Dittrich]

LMAO M.B.!!!!!

[pushbutton]

....and for you two .......ID this!

[Matt Breuer]

Looks mossy... I would say you're in a good area!

[Deitz Dittrich]

do fungi grow more or less during full moon periods?