Chicken of the Woods
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188841750
After seeing many observations of various mushrooms, I've begun to keep my eyes peeled for mushrooms as I walk through forested areas. Lucky for me, this large clump of Chicken of the Woods was not hard to spot. In fact, it was quite large and spanned about three feet vertically up the tree trunk. It turns out, this mushroom is a very common one to find and also edible! The mushroom gets its name for its chicken-like texture and flavor. This mushroom, "grows on hardwoods and conifers, depending on the species, and causes brown rot in the host tree. They are both parasitic, attacking the host when it is still alive, and saprobic, living on dead and decomposing organic wood"(Jenny). While Chicken of the Woods is a popular mushroom to forage, it also possesses some fascinating medicinal qualities. A report published this year states, "Many studies have demonstrated that the extracts obtained from this mushroom and some of their components have positive effects on human health. They have antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties and regulate human metabolism and digestive processes"(Adamska). There's truly more to this mushroom than its fascinating structure and striking size. If you're on the hunt for some they can be,"easily recognized by their large clusters of overlapping brackets, and bright yellow-orangish colors. The colors fade as the mushroom grows older"(Jenny). I did not forage any of the mushrooms during my observation, but upon learning about them I'm interested in cooking them up and reaping the potential benefits.
Adamska, Iwona. “The Possibility of Using Sulphur Shelf Fungus (Laetiporus sulphureus) in the Food Industry and in Medicine-A Review.” Foods (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 12,7 1539. 5 Apr. 2023, doi:10.3390/foods12071539
Jenny. “Chasing the Chicken of the Woods (Facts, Identification, and Recipes).” Mushroom Appreciation, 5 May 2023, www.mushroom-appreciation.com/chicken-of-the-woods.html. Accessed 25 October 2023.
Comments
I never thought a mushroom would be called a chicken of the woods; that's a surprise I was not expecting today. Its name comes from its texture and taste. Does that mean it tastes like chicken? I can't believe there's a mushroom that tastes like chicken. I like the up-close shots you got of the mushrooms. I can see the folds clearly, and the color is a nice orange-to-brown. Three feet vertically is extensive; it must have been a sight in person. Interesting, so the species is both parasitic and saprobic. I wonder how many mushroom species are like that, or is the chicken of the woods just a rarer species? Anyway, it was interesting seeing the health benefits of eating the chicken of the woods, and it makes me want to go forage for some.
Oh, the mysterious world of mushrooms! Every time I hear about someone spotting a cool one, it makes me want to dash to the nearest forest. Your Chicken of the Woods sighting is no exception! I can only imagine how spectacular it looked, spanning three feet up a tree trunk. Nature really does have its own kind of magic.
That name, though? “Chicken of the Woods.” Sounds like it'd be a hit at dinner parties, especially if it truly tastes like chicken. And goodness, the medicinal qualities! Antibacterial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties? Mother Nature is quite the pharmacist.
The foraging bit does intrigue me. Always wanted to try it (with a knowledgeable guide, of course). Happy foraging and here’s to more mushroom adventures!
As with the other comments on your post, I am fascinated that this mushroom has a similar taste and texture to chicken. Is this a reference to cooked chicken? I would assume so since most do not know the taste of raw chicken. I wonder why some mushrooms live on the ground and some in trees, and if there was some sort of adaptation throughout history that made these mushrooms find a certain plant home. I am not surprised that this mushroom has medical benefits, because with the more journal posts I read, the more I realize that this Earth provides so much healing and nourishment to our bodies. I would like to try this type of mushroom some day if I can find it/forage it safely!
Hey, Jillian! Though I have heard of and seen the Chicken of the Woods fungi in person before, after reading your journal post, I definitely feel as though I know more details about the species now; for example, I had no idea there were a few health benefits associated with consuming the plant. They are truly amazingly versatile little mushrooms and, though I have never had the opportunity to try them, I hear that they go very well on their own, in soups, or as a tasty side dish. I love that this is just another one of the many reasonably plentiful food sources available to forage around different parts of the world.
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