Can
you identify what's in this photo?
Each Wednesday morning
on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page
the Lutherlyn Environmental
Education Program posts a photo.
Readers
have all morning and afternoon
to
make their best guess about what the photo is.
Around
6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.
Each
week's What is it Wednesday post
will
also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog,
after it is posted on Facebook,
sometimes
with additional bonus information.
In
addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday
on the
Nature of Lutherlyn blog,
we
will be reposting old editions,
creating
a What is it Wednesday archive.
This
photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on
July 15, 2020.
And
the answer is....
This is a mushroom known as chicken of the woods, also
sometimes called sulphur shelf. It grows on dead trees and logs, and is a
beautiful bright orange-yellow color, with color variations around the edge of
the growth.
It is called chicken of the woods because it is edible, and the “flesh” of the mushroom has a color and texture a bit like cooked chicken breast. It also keeps its striking surface color when cooked, which makes it a pretty addition to dishes like sautéed vegetables. It is common, easy to identify, pick, and use, and filling – a great wild food find! For many people it is the first wild mushroom they eat, because it has no toxic look-alikes. But even for people who don’t eat wild mushrooms (the safest approach!) its striking color, shape, and abundant layers make it a treat to find.
It is called chicken of the woods because it is edible, and the “flesh” of the mushroom has a color and texture a bit like cooked chicken breast. It also keeps its striking surface color when cooked, which makes it a pretty addition to dishes like sautéed vegetables. It is common, easy to identify, pick, and use, and filling – a great wild food find! For many people it is the first wild mushroom they eat, because it has no toxic look-alikes. But even for people who don’t eat wild mushrooms (the safest approach!) its striking color, shape, and abundant layers make it a treat to find.
Always remember that whenever trying a new wild food it is
important to make sure you have the correct identification and preparation, and
to try a small amount at first to make sure you don’t have a bad reaction. And
the safest way to be sure you don’t eat any poisonous wild mushrooms is to not
eat any wild mushrooms!
Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on
Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when
they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!
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