✅ Edibility Note
EDIBLE when young, but CAUTION: Like other conifer-dwelling Laetiporus, this species more commonly causes digestive upset than hardwood species. Hemlock specimens can cause stomach issues in sensitive individuals. Harvest only very young, tender specimens. Start with small amounts to test tolerance. Cook thoroughly. The hemlock host and northeastern range help identification. Some people tolerate it well, others experience problems.
Description
Bright orange to salmon bracket with sulfur-yellow to cream pore surface, forming large overlapping shelves 2-10 inches wide on hemlock. Often paler yellow pores than L. sulphureus. Soft and succulent when young. Distinguished by northeastern range and strict association with eastern hemlock. Forms rosettes on trunks and logs. Annual bracket.
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat: Parasitic and saprobic specifically on living and dead eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Strongly host-specific to hemlock in northeastern forests. Forms shelving brackets on trunks, stumps, and fallen logs. Causes brown cubical heart rot. Common where eastern hemlock occurs.
Region: Northeastern United States, Great Lakes region, Appalachian Mountains, Southeastern Canada, Eastern hemlock range, New England to Georgia
Seasonality
Summer through fall, typically July-October. Peak fruiting in August-September. Flushes after warm summer rains. Similar timing to other northern Laetiporus species.
Common Lookalikes
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species:
- Laetiporus conifericola (western mountains, different conifers)
- Laetiporus sulphureus (on hardwoods, not conifers)
- Other Laetiporus species (different hosts/ranges)
- Jack-o'-lantern (Omphalotus) - toxic, has gills not pores
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