Chicken of the Woods and Witch’s Butter: Jokers of Kingdom Fungi

Reader Contribution by Lyndsay Dawson Mynatt
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As Boletus edulis is the mighty king and Cantharellus cibarius, the dainty queen of Kingdom Fungi, Chicken of the Woods and Witch’s Butter are brightly costumed jokers.  Parasites in the mushroom realm, these shelf mushrooms feed on trees, unlike saprophytic mushrooms that live on dead organic matter or mycorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic relationships with soil and roots.

Chicken of the Woods

Laetiporus sulphureus is a showcase find. Spiraling skyward on live trees or hiding on the under side of dead ones, Chicken of the Woods flaunts her neon feathers to all who pass by.

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