White-Pored Chicken (Rose-Cap)

Overview

Eastern North America's second common chicken of the woods. Salmon-pink to peach upper surface with a WHITE pore layer (L. sulphureus has yellow pores). Fruits as a terrestrial rosette at the base of living or recently-dead oaks (rarely cherry, beech) — attacking the buried root system. Same season and culinary use as L. sulphureus, but generally considered better tolerated by sensitive stomachs.

Season

Jun–Oct — typical fruiting months: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.

Host trees & substrate

• Base of living/dead oak
• Buried oak roots

Where it grows

• Appalachian Highlands
• Northeast
• Upper Midwest / Great Lakes
• Southeast Coastal Plain
• Great Plains
• Texas
• Sierra Nevada & Nor-Cal