momoese

.....on my Melaleuca tree. Any idea as to what it is? This is the second year it's grown on this same tree.

Abnshrek

Knock it off if you like. It probably grows on North side of tree. Happens here alot in LA. Hope its not due to rot, ants or termites. Good Luck :^)

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sbl

I will have to get my book out, but it could be "chicken of the woods" an edible, mushroom that is considered pretty good. If if is it will probably come back every year for several years about the same time of yr.

Edit: here is a link: Laetiporus sulphureus: The Chicken of the Woods (MushroomExpert.Com)

Edit 2: That one did not mention that it was edible, but this one does: Rogers Mushrooms - Laetiporus sulphureus Mushroom

momoese

Thanks, I also found this and it sounds like the same thing. The picture also looked just like mine. I do not however have any plans of eating it. (shaking head no) Dogs like to pee on that tree.

"Description: Sulphur shelf (Laetiporus sulphureus) is also known as the chicken of the woods, the chicken mushroom, and the chicken fungus. It is, as one might expect, an edible mushroom with a taste quite similar to lemony chicken. Individual "shelves" range from 2-10 inches across. These shelves are made up of many tiny tubular filaments (hyphae). The mushroom grows in large brackets - some have been found that weigh over 100 pounds (45 kg). It is most commonly found on wounds of trees, mostly oak, though it is also frequently found on yew, cherry wood, sweet chestnut, and willow. Though it does grow off of a living tree, sulphur shelf is not a parasite, though it may cause decay. Young mushrooms are characterized by a moist, rubbery, sulphur-yellow body with bright orange tips. Older mushrooms become pale and brittle, pungent, and are often dotted with termite holes.

Where found: Throughout most of the world

Availability: Late Summer to Fall

Use: Slice thinly and add to stews or simmer for 30 minutes.

WARNING: About half of the population has an allergic reaction to this type of mushroom, with cases being more pronounced in older mushrooms. Due to all of these factors, the mushroom should generally only be eaten when young, and one should always only try a small amount the first time."

sbl

I have eaten it. There was one that grew on a tree on the way to work, I collected it for a couple yrs before they cut the tree down.

Lagniappe

Spray it with Melaleuca.

Abnshrek

I might eat fungus but not off no tree... lol

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momoese

That would make it a chicken sandwhich.

Lagniappe

I've seen this one offered alongside shiitake and other popular mushroom plugs for log inoculation.

sbl

You don't like ****ake? Actually, quite a few edible mushrooms grow on trees.

Chicken of the woods is considered a beginners mushroom, because of the fact that there is nothing toxic that looks anything like it.

Edit: the forum software blanked the first part of the mushroom above--it starts with Sh--

Lagniappe

Shiitake

Richard

I'm too chicken to eat it.

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Jananas Bananas

Tastes like CHICKEN!!!! HA! HA! HA!

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sbl

Right! I spelled it wrong! Thanks.

As for being chicken about eating wild mushrooms--that is the way to be unless you are certain--the consequences of being wrong are serious. I got started with an experienced mushroom hunter that only collected mushrooms that were in a book "A Beginners Guide To Mushrooms". The book only listed about 40 mushrooms, all were very different from anything that is harmful.

Rmplmnz

No idea...but if this tree were in Florida I can tell you what the Dept of Agriculture's recommendation would be...

Melaleuca

One especially destructive invasive species is the tree commonly known as Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia). This species is thought to have been introduced into Florida in Manatee County around 1887. The tree was popularized by nurseries to provide shade and windbreaks for home owners, and it gained recognition for its ability to thrive in both upland and aquatic environments (Serbesoff-King 2003). In 1941, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began planting Melaleuca trees in the Lake Okeechobee area along levees and spoil islands for erosion control (Stocker and Sanders 1981). Melaleuca was planted in swampy areas under the belief that it would help dry these places and facilitate future development (Laroche and McKim 2004). This notion has been debated among scientific scholars: while some adhere to the belief that Melaleuca consumes more water than native vegetation, others argue that it does not use any more water than other plants.

Melaleuca has now become established in south Florida, and has spread much more quickly there than in its native Australia (Rayamajhi et al. 2002). Current estimates place the coverage of Melaleuca in south Florida at anywhere from 200,000 to 500,000 acres (Figure 1). The main issue with Melaleuca is that it causes a reduction in area of uplands and ecologically-sensitive wetland areas. Due to its rapid growth and reproduction rates, Melaleuca may completely dominate landscapes that it invades, thus decreasing biodiversity and precluding the growth of native vegetation (Schmitz and Hofstetter 1999). Studies show that patches of Melaleuca can spread to dominate one square mile of land in only 25 years (Laroche and Ferriter 1992). Melaleuca may also increase wildfire danger because the dense stands burn with greater intensity, making fire control more difficult (Diamond et al. 1991).

FE670/FE670: The History and Economics of Melaleuca Management in South Florida

Anyway..good luck ID'ing that fungus

bikoro child

In France we call it beef tongue and if you want to eat it you have to cook it for a while even when it is young...This fungus is generally observed when the tree is going to die..

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Abnshrek

Now the real beef tongue (boiled) I will eat but no substitutes ie.. a fungus.. nothing against fungus..

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momoese

No worries, this tree won't be dying anytime soon. The fungi grows on the loose papery bark. The common name for this tree is "Paper Bark" although it should be called "pain in the foot tree" because each tiny leaf that falls off has a little thorn on the end that sticks in your feet if you walk barefoot.