Laetiporus sulphureus, commonly known as the Sulfur Shelf or Chicken of the Woods, is a species of bracket fungus. It is characterized by its vibrant orange-to-yellow colour and shelf-like growth pattern. The undersurface of the fruit body is made up of tubelike pores rather than gills. This fungus typically grows on decaying wood, often appearing in large clusters.

Fruiting body attached directly to the trunk of a tree and is initially knob-shaped, later expands to fan-shaped, typically overlapping shelves with thick margin. The upper surface colour ranges from bright whitish-yellow to bright whitish-orange. Flesh soft and coloured as cap surface. Old fruitbodies fade to tan or whitish. The under surface is sulphur-yellow with small pores or tubes and has a white spore print. When fresh, the flesh is succulent and exudes a yellowish juice, but soon becomes dry and brittle. It has a strong, fungusy smell. Spore print white.

Microscopic Features: The spores have an ellipsoidal to broadly ovoid shape, measuring approximately 5-7 x 3.5-4.5µm.

Laetiporus sulphureus on the First Nature Web site.
Laetiporus sulphureus on the MushroomExpert.Com Web site.