Tricholoma Sejunctum

Image By Ron Pastorino

Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, also known as the false chanterelle, is a mushroom species that is found in North America and Europe.

Description

Identifying factors:

- Fruiting body: Shelf-like with a fan-shaped or semicircular cap, often growing in overlapping clusters. The upper surface is bright yellow to orange, while the underside has small, circular pores that are also yellow to orange.

- Flesh: Soft and fleshy, with a yellowish to orange color.

- Spore print: White.

- Habitat: Often grows on dead or dying trees, particularly oak.

Lookalikes:

- Laetiporus cincinnatus: Similar in appearance, but has a more whitish to yellowish color and a preference for growing on live trees rather than dead ones.

- Fuligo septica: Also known as the "dog vomit slime mold," it can resemble young chicken of the woods fruiting bodies in color and texture, but lacks the distinct pore surface and has a slimy consistency.

- Sparassis crispa: Another shelf-like mushroom that can be confused with chicken of the woods, but has a distinctive branching and wrinkled appearance, with a white to cream color.