Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus species complex)
Brianna Benitez, Claudia A. Paez, Matthew E. Smith, and Jason A. Smith
Members of the Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.) Murrill species complex, also known as "chicken of the woods," are wood-decay fungi that are widely distributed in North America. All of the species of the "chicken of the woods" group cause brown rot in a variety of tree host species, and this brown rot can cause wood to lose its structural integrity and turn powdery. Fruiting bodies in this group can be recognized by their bright yellow-orange colors and their soft, suede-like texture.
