Chicken of the Woods
Can a mushroom really taste like chicken?
Surprisingly...
Yes.
Chicken of the Woods gets its name from its firm texture and mild flavour, which many people compare to chicken when it's cooked. Its bright orange and yellow shelves can appear to be growing right out of the side of a tree, making it one of the easiest mushrooms to spot.
But don't let its friendly name fool you.
Not every bright orange mushroom is Chicken of the Woods, and even this species can make some people sick.
Unlike most plants, this mushroom doesn't make its own food. It grows by breaking down wood, returning nutrients locked inside old trees back to the forest where they can be used again.
Without fungi like this, forests would slowly fill up with dead wood.
Nature's recycling system would grind to a halt.
Next time you're at the lake..
If you spot a bright orange mushroom growing on a tree, stop and admire it...
...but leave it where you found it unless you're absolutely certain of its identity.
Besides, it's doing important work.
Every mushroom is helping turn yesterday's forest into tomorrow's.