I encountered this beautiful Sulphur Shelf Fungus yesterday. It was growing on the side of a rotting tree trunk. Its colors were vibrant in the misty woods. With the low light level, I was unsure if I would be able to capture the beauty that was before me.
Nothing goes to waste in the forest. This large tree died and fell to the forest floor. Now it is home to many insects, salamanders, small animals, plants and fungi. They all are helping the decay of the tree to proceed thus returning the nutrients and minerals of the tree to the soil so other life can use them and flourish in a never ending cycle!
The Sulphur Shelf Fungus is commonly known as the Chicken of the Woods for when fried it is supposed to be comparable to fried chicken. Although I consider myself somewhat of an outdoorsman this is one delicacy I have not tried!
Looks almost like something that should be under water.
ReplyDeleteYou've gotta try it, Salty Dawg! How many people get the chance to say they've tried Sulphur Shelf Fungus Wood Chicken? ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks....crunchy?
Looks like a dessert pastry of some sort. I thought this was an underwater shot.
ReplyDeleteFungus are so cool! I got some pics of a similar structure on the ground this year, called a "lobter mushroom"-not exactly a mushroom, but a mold that overtakes its host and transforms it. If you ever eat one of those chickens of the woods, post a culinary review, ok?
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