Laetiporus sulphureus is a species of bracket fungus (fungi that grow on trees) found in Europe and North America.

Laetiporus sulphureus is a saprophyte and occasionally a weak parasite, causing brown cubical rot in the heartwood of trees on which it grows.

[3][4] The fruiting body emerges directly from the trunk of a tree and is initially knob-shaped, but soon expands to fan-shaped shelves, typically growing in overlapping tiers.

[6] When fresh, the flesh is succulent with a strong fungal aroma and exudes a yellowish, transparent juice, but soon becomes dry and brittle.

Laetiporus sulphureus is widely distributed across Europe (April to November)[5] and North America, although its range may be restricted to areas east of the Rockies.

It grows on dead or mature hardwoods and has been reported from a very wide variety of host trees, such as Quercus, Prunus, Pyrus, Populus, Salix, Robinia, and Fagus, occasionally also from conifers,[7] from August to October or later, sometimes as early as June.

Due to its taste, Laetiporus sulphureus has been called the chicken polypore and chicken-of-the-woods[12] (not to be confused with Grifola frondosa, the so-called hen-of-the-woods).

[9] Only the young outer edges of larger specimens should be collected, as older portions tend to be tough, unpalatable, and bug-infested.