Fungus Amongus in Santa Barbara

This bright yellow and orange shelf fungus caught my eye at 30mph on earlier today about a mile and a half east of San Ysidro Rd. on East Valley Rd., Santa Barbara (CA-192). As big as a bowling ball, and about a foot and a half above the ground, the Sulfur fungus, Laetiporus sulphureus has likely been growing in the large eucalyptus tree (one of a long line along the road) for a very long time - perhaps as many as forty or fifty years. [October 16: Daniel Mosquin of the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden publishes a great feature, "Botany Photo of the Day". He has provided additional information regarding our fungus and identifies it as Laetiporus gilbertsonii. Thanks, Daniel for the updated ID and for accepting my photo/info at BPOD. I read "Botany Photo of the Day" every day and recommend it highly!]

Upon closer look, you can see the small, bulbous lumps of regrowth that have covered many old wounds. And growing so close to the edge of the roadway, there are many opportunities for wounding. Once the wound is inoculated by a tiny spore, the fungus grows throughout the heartwood, and only matures to this 'fruiting' phase after many, many years.

Darn! Something this brightly colored looks like candy! Although apparently it tastes more like chicken. As with all fungus/mushrooms, double/triple check for identification and suitability prior to eating. Even if edible, some people have reactions to them - so only eat a small piece the first time around. One way to prepare shelf fungus (and only collect when fresh, not old and brown) is to roll pieces in beer batter and fry them up - and with that recipe, you can even make shoestrings taste good!