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Sulfur Shelf mushroom


Sulfur Shelf mushroom
Photo Information
Copyright: John Denk (jpdenk) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 480 W: 5 N: 783] (2061)
Genre: Fungi
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-30
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Nikon D70, Micro Nikkor AF60mm f2.8
Exposure: f/11, 1/25 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Mushrooms and Slime Molds of North America [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-08-31 7:14
Viewed: 826
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
One of my favorite mushrooms for photographing as well as eating. Sulfur Shelf, a.k.a. Chicken mushroom, Chicken of the Woods, is a polypore fungus that is both a saprobe, consuming dead wood and sometimes a parasite, growing on living trees, killing them. In living trees, it causes a cubical, reddish brown rot of the heartwood, usually leaving essentially an empty shell. It grows within the tree for a long time before the mushrooms appear. Once they are seen, it's usually a sign that the tree is on its last legs.

These however, were growing on an old, downed log. I didn't pick these, left them to grow. The droplets of water visible in the photo are not from rain, they are droplets being secreted by the mushroom.

In recent years, there's been work done on this species complex that has resulted in several new species being split off. In some areas, this is considered a delicacy for the table while in other parts of the world, it's considered to be mediocre at best. That may be due to people picking different species that are being lumped together under Laetiporus sulphureus.

A few people suffer gastrointestinal distress from this species. The first time I tried eating it, I got slightly ill, but it turned out that I had picked an older, inedible one. Since then, I only pick young fresh ones for eating, and haven't had any more trouble.
marianas, Argus, horias, boreocypriensis, roges, Hormon_Manyer, jlinaresp, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Thanksjpdenk 1 09-05 08:06
To tuslaw: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-31 20:43
To jlinaresp: Thank youjpdenk 1 08-31 13:39
To euroblinkie: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-31 13:38
To Hormon_Manyer: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-31 13:37
To roges: Thank youjpdenk 1 08-31 13:35
To boreocypriensis: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-31 13:34
To horias: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-31 07:41
To Argus: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-31 07:39
To marianas: Thanksjpdenk 1 08-31 07:37
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Critiques [Translate]

John,
Wonderful capture.
Great colors and lovely texture.
Mariana

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3833 W: 190 N: 11412] (35173)
  • [2009-08-31 7:22]
  • [+]

hello John,
This is a superb contribution! You took this striking mushroom with fine colours, sharpness and DOF as it grows on its lichenand moss-covered dead wood substrate. It really contrasts well with this BG.
Interesting to know that this is edible: fried in butter?
Thanks and best wishes,
Ivan

John,
Relay, is good to it?
Because the colors make me suspicious...
Great capture, wonderful shot!
Horia

Hi John again,

An excellent and beautiful macro capture of this Sulfur Shelf mushroom from great POV/DOF and clarity.
Useful notes as usual.
TFS and have a nice day!
Cheers,

bayram

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 623 W: 0 N: 569] (3264)
  • [2009-08-31 10:31]
  • [+]

Hi John,
A very interesting capture.
Very well made. Since I have never seen such a species of mushrooms.
Have a beautiful evening,
Adrian

Hi John,
Beautiful specie and photo. It's interesting last year (which was quite rainy here), I didn't find any at all, while now, in the summer drought it's much more common. I found a lot in 2009, but only a few on each of my trips, so I have eaten it only once - without problems.
Tfs this beauty, best regards, László

hello John
super sharpness composition
great details of this beautiful fungi
Great shot
with good light
greeting lou

Hi John,

A species enough onlooker, both for his structure and for his coloration. Additionally is interesting that grows in lively trees and it arrives to kill them. The picture is very good and it allows observing very well details. Thank you very much for the document so interesting that annex. Thank you for sharing!

Regards,

Jesús

Hello John,
You post a great shot of this Chicken mushroom. The DOf is super, as you can see exceptional detail throughout the entire mushroom. Perfect exposure!!
The lichen covered log makes a great BG and the contrasting colors are beautiful. Well done! Very informative notes!!
Ron

The light, color, DOF, and textures look very nice John.
Excellent detail, and the dark contrasting BG works nicely.
Well done!

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