Laetiporus conifericola

Laetiporus conifericola
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Polyporales
Family:	Laetiporaceae
Genus:	Laetiporus
Species:	L. conifericola
Binomial name
Laetiporus conifericola Burds. & Banik (2001)

Laetiporus conifericola is a species of polypore fungus in the family Fomitopsidaceae. It is found in western North America ranging from California to Alaska, where it grows as a plant pathogen on conifer trees, particularly fir, spruce, and hemlock.^[1][2] Fruit bodies of the fungus comprise overlapping pore-bearing plates, measuring collectively up to 60 cm (24 in) across, and up to 4 cm (2 in) thick.^[1] Their color ranges from bright orange to salmon orange on the upper surface of the cap and stipe, with a yellow pore surface on the cap underside. Spores are egg-shaped, smooth, hyaline (translucent), and measure 6.5–8.0 by 4.0–5.0 μm.^[3] The species has a pleasant odour when fresh.^[4]

The species was described as new to science in 2001 by mycologists Harold H. Burdsall and Mark T. Banik. The type collection was made in Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, in October 1999. L. conifericola is distinguished from other Laetiporus species by its growth on conifers. Until its confirmation as a distinct species, it was frequently misidentified as the eastern North American species L. sulphureus, which grows on hardwoods.^[3] L. gilbertsonii is also similar.^[1] L. conifericola is generally considered edible,^[5] but some people have reported having gastrointestinal upset after consuming the fungus.^[1] Young specimens with soft flesh or the fresh margins of older fruit bodies are best for eating, and thorough cooking is recommended.^[6]

References

1. Davis RM, Sommer R, Menge JA (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. University of California Press. p. 350. ISBN 978-0-520-27108-1.
2. Gonthier P, Nicolotti G (2013). Infectious Forest Diseases. CAB International. p. 201. ISBN 978-1-78064-040-2.
3. Burdsall HH Jr; Banik MT. (2001). "The genus Laetiporus in North America" (PDF). Harvard Papers in Botany. 6 (1): 43–55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-14. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
4. Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. pp. 260–261. ISBN 978-0-88192-935-5.
5. Meuninck, Jim (2017). Foraging Mushrooms Oregon: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms. Falcon Guides. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-4930-2669-2.
6. Desjardin DE, Wood MG, Stevens FA (2014). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Portland; London: Timber Press. p. 388. ISBN 978-1-60469-353-9.