Laetiporus sulphureus

Laetiporus sulphureus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Basidiomycetes
Subclass: Agaricomycetidae
Order: Polyporales
Family: Polyporaceae
Genus: Laetiporus
Species: L. sulphureus
Binomial name
Laetiporus sulphureus
(Bull.) Murrill (1920)
Synonyms
Laetiporus sulphureus
Mycological characteristics
pores on hymenium
cap is flat
hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable
lacks a stipe
spore print is white

ecology is saprotrophic

or parasitic

edibility: choice

or poisonous

Laetiporus sulphureus is a species of bracket fungus (fungus that grows on trees) found in Europe and North America. Its common names are sulphur polypore, sulphur shelf, and chicken mushroom. Its fruit bodies grow as striking golden-yellow shelf-like structures on tree trunks and branches. Like other bracket fungi, they may last many years and fade to a more pale grey or brown. The undersurface of the fruit body is made up of tubelike pores rather than gills.

Laetiporus sulphureus is a saprophyte, and causes brown cubical rot in the heartwood of trees on which it grows. Unlike many bracket fungi, it is edible when young.

Contents

Taxonomy and phylogenetics

Laetiporus sulphureus was first described as Boletus sulphureus by French mycologist Pierre Bulliard in 1789. It has had many synonyms, and finally gained its current name in 1920 by American mycologist William Murrill. Laetiporus means with bright pores and sulphureus means the color of sulphur.[1]

Phylogenetic analyses of ITS, nuclear large subunit and mitochondrial small subunit rDNA sequences from a variety of North American species has delineated five distinct clades within the core Laetiporus clade:[2]

Investigations in North America have shown that there are several similar species within what has been considered L. sulphureus, and that the true L. sulphureus might be restricted to regions east of the Rocky Mountains.[3]

Description

The cap is small and knob shaped, overlapping in an irregular pattern. Wide, shaped like a fan, and directly attached to the trunk of a tree, it has a shelf-like appearance and is sulfur-yellow to bright orange in colour and a suedelike texture. When it is old, the cap fades to tan or white. The shelves often grow in overlapping clumps, and each one may be anywhere from 5 to 60 cm (2 to 24 in) in diameter and 4 cm (1.4 in) thick.[3] The fertile surface is sulfur-yellow with small pores or tubes and has a white spore print.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Laetiporus sulphureus is widely distributed across Europe and North America, although may be restricted to east of the Rockies.

The mushroom grows on dead or mature hardwoods such as oak, cherry, or beech from August through October or later, sometime as early as June. The species can also be found under conifers. It can usually be found growing in clusters.[5]

Parasitism

The mushroom causes brown cubical rot on of the heartwood in the roots, base, and stem. At first, the wood is discolored yellowish to red. Later on, it becomes reddish-brown and brittle. At the last stage, the wood can be rubbed like powder between someone's fingers.[6]

Guinness world record

A specimen weighing 100 pounds was found in the New Forest, Hampshire, United Kingdom on October 15, 1990.[7]

Edibility

Because of the taste, people have called the mushroom chicken polypore and chicken-of-the-woods. Many people think that the mushroom tastes like crab or lobster. The authors of Mushrooms in Color said that the mushroom tastes good sauteed in butter or prepared in a cream sauce served over toast or rice.[8] It is highly regarded in Germany and North America.[9] The mushroom is a good substitute for chicken.

Young specimens are edible if a large, clear watery liquid comes out of it.[5] The mushroom should not be eaten raw.[1] Deer like to eat the mushroom.[10]

Allergic effects

Some people have had gastrointestinal upset after eating this mushroom.[8]

Studies have shown severe adverse reactions in about 10% of the population, including vomiting and fever.

Medicinal

The mushroom produces the Laetiporus sulphureus lectin (LSL) which has hemolytic and hemagglutination activities. Hemolytic lectins are sugar-binding proteins that lyse and agglutinate cells. The hemagglutination and hemolytic activity are started by binding carbohydrates.[11]

Cultivation

Compared to species such as Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom) and oyster mushroom, commercial cultivation of Laetiporus is limited. However, it can be cultivated; the most dependable and rapid production of this mushroom is cultivation of it indoors. The mushroom does not require the heat and water that gilled mushrooms do. The mushroom is sensitive to carbon dioxide levels and light condition. Many cultivators use controlled environment.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Smith, Alexander H.; Smith Weber, Nancy (1980). The Mushroom Hunter's Field Guide. University of Michigan Press. p. 64. ISBN 9780472856107. http://books.google.com/books?id=TYI4f6fqrfkC&pg=RA1-PA63. 
  2. ^ Lindner DL, Banik MT. (2008). "Molecular phylogeny of Laetiporus and other brown rot polypore genera in North America". Mycologia 100 (3): 417–30. doi:10.3852/07-124R2. PMID 18751549. 
  3. ^ a b Kuo, Michael (March 2005). "Laetiporus sulphureus: The Chicken of the Woods". Mushroomexpert.com. http://www.mushroomexpert.com/laetiporus_sulphureus.html. Retrieved 23 February 2010. 
  4. ^ "Laetiporus sulphureus". New Jersey Mycological Association. http://www.njmyco.org/mushpages/Laetiporus_sulphureus.html. Retrieved 2010-02-22. 
  5. ^ a b Spahr, David L. (2009). Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England and Eastern Canada. North Atlantic Books. p. 124. ISBN 9781556437953. http://books.google.com/books?id=nFZ-lwRXuNYC&pg=PA123. 
  6. ^ Schwarze FWMR, Engels J, Mattheck C. (2000). Fungal strategies of wood decay in trees. Springer. p. 73. ISBN 9783540672050. http://books.google.com/books?id=LZssbJ6g6PUC&pg=PA73. 
  7. ^ Glenday, Craig (2009). Guinness World Records 2009. Random House, Inc.. ISBN 9780553592566. http://books.google.com/books?id=aHYt0RNSDfgC&pg=PA209&dq=Laetiporus+sulphureus&lr=&ei=Go2CS_utE4moM5ehmOoP&cd=47#v=onepage&q=Laetiporus%20sulphureus&f=false. 
  8. ^ a b K. Miller, Jr., Orson; H. Miller, Hope. Mushrooms in Color. South China Printing Co.. ISBN 0525931900. 
  9. ^ Phillips, Roger (2010). "Laetiporus sulphureus". Roger's Mushrooms. http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6237.asp. Retrieved 23 February 2010. 
  10. ^ Rost, Amy (2007). Survival Wisdom & Know How: Everything You Need to Know to Thrive in the Wilderness. Black Dog Publishing. pp. 149. ISBN 9781579127534. http://books.google.com/books?id=a4Lvmt8VZY4C&pg=PA149&dq=Laetiporus+sulphureus&lr=&ei=XB2DS9iMGo30Mqab-ekP&cd=22#v=onepage&q=Laetiporus%20sulphureus&f=false. 
  11. ^ Mancheño JM, Tateno H, Goldstein IJ, Martínez-Ripoll M, Hermoso JA. (2005). "Structural analysis of the Laetiporus sulphureus hemolytic pore-forming lectin in complex with sugars". Journal of Biological Chemistry 280 (17): 17251–9. doi:10.1074/jbc.M413933200. PMID 15687495. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=15687495. 
  12. ^ Stamets, Paul (2000). Growing gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms. Ten Speed Press. p. 351. ISBN 9781580081757. http://books.google.com/books?id=jH-JI7pAOjAC&pg=RA1-PA351.