Carrie Lapaire, Lab Technician, Purdue University
Sulfur shelf (Laetiporus sulphureus) can be commonly found this time
of year in Indiana, often growing on cherry trees. Dr. Marcus Scholler, Curator
of the Arthur
and Kriebel Herbaria, writes: "This wonderful yellow to orange fungus
is called sulfur shelf. The fungus lives as a saprophyte on wood or as a weak
parasite on old/diseased living deciduous or coniferous trees. Besides their
color, fruiting bodies are characterized by their large, soft and stalkless
brackets which are arranged in overlapping rosettes. Sulfur shelf belongs to
the pore family forming small pores on the underside. Unlike other members of
the family, fruiting bodies are annuals. Therefore they have to grow very fast
to reach their typical size. As they grow older, the fruiting bodies turn whitish
and brittle."
Click on the small image to view a larger image.
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| Several L. sulphurea growing on a dying cherry
tree in |
A maturing sulfur shelf, measuring 9 inches across |
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Gail Ruhl, Senior Plant Disease Diagnostician, Interim P&PDL Director
The poisonous Jack-O’Lantern fungus, Omphalotus olearius (formerly known as either Omphalotus illudens or Clitocybe illudens) is most often found growing in clusters at the base of old, rotting, hardwood tree stumps. Smaller groups may sometimes be found growing from buried roots.
It should be fairly obvious from the image where this fungus gets its common name – it is bright orange, like the pumpkin used to make Jack-O- Lanterns. However, another reason for the common name is not as obvious from this image. This fungus glows in the dark! When viewed at night, an eerie greenish luminescence may be seen emanating from the gills on the underside of this fungus. (Photos taken by Natalie Carroll)
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| Clusters of Jack-O-Lantern fungi at base of tree (Photo by Natalie Carroll) |
Smaller groups of Jack-O-Lantern fungi on rotting roots (Photo by Natalie Carroll) |