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Jim Fowler | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> 2007-09-02 Pisgah National Forest tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

2007-09-02 Pisgah National Forest

2007-09-02 Day trip to the Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County, NC. Today, we went back to the main Triphora trianthophora site to get a shot or two of the forming seed capsules. While we were in the area, we decided to go north about ten miles or so to an area called the Pink Beds. It got its name due to the occurance of two flowers: Helonias bullata (rare and endangered lily that blooms in the spring) and Arethusa bulbosa, which blooms in early summer. Didn't find either one of those, but did find an interesting saprophyte and a tree fungus.

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Triphora trianthophora seed capsules
Triphora trianthophora seed capsules		 Triphora trianthophora seed capsules -- looks like a healthy crop
Triphora trianthophora seed capsules -- looks like a healthy crop		 Monotropa hypopithys (pinesap)
Monotropa hypopithys (pinesap)		 Monotropa hypopithys (pinesap)
Monotropa hypopithys (pinesap)
Monotropa hypopithys (pinesap) just poking out of the ground
Monotropa hypopithys (pinesap) just poking out of the ground		 Monotropa hypopithys (pinesap)
Monotropa hypopithys (pinesap)		 Tree fungus -- any guesses as to the species? The dead tree was festooned with groups of this fabulous fungus - 10 inches wide
Tree fungus -- any guesses as to the species? The dead tree was festooned with groups of this fabulous fungus - 10 inches wide

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tom sampliner 03-Sep-2007 12:42
The orange colored brakcet fungus is a widespread eastern N. American edible species that has these handsome colors when freshest. It is variously called Sulphur polypore and chicken of the woods(yeah tastes like chicken remark)
Scientific name=Polyporus sulphureus also Laetiporous sulphureous. It fruits in both spring and fall in my region of the Great Lakes. Only eat when fresh and young and wash thoroughly as it is frequently insect visited.
Francis Underwood 03-Sep-2007 01:04
The mushroom looks like Polyporus sulphureus, Chicken of the Woods. I'm not a mushroom expert, but a friend of mine who is considers it a delicacy. It is a "choice edible" according to Field Guide to Mushrooms by National Audubon Society. I have eaten it after my friend prepared it and it tastes like, and has the texture of chicken I see it on occasion in RI growing on stumps and logs in deciduous woods.
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