I found this very big yellow mushroom in my flower bed (under a bush), it seems that in addition to the visible portion there is a huge area underground that is moist and mushy. I found it since the top layer carved in and a big hole. We live in New Jersey. From the look and based on internet research I think it is a Hen of the Woods mushroom (edible). Can anybody comment? What do you think? Thanks
hen of the woods was my first guess, but if it is that, there must be (or used to be) a hardwood (usually an oak tree) in the near vicinity.
There is a huge oak tree about 20m off and a smaller one about 6m, those roots are all over the place. So this would support the Hen of the Wood?!
It is likely that the place where you found this mushroom is right over one of those roots. As a general rule, if you can stand by a mushroom and have a given tree fall on you, then that mushroom can be associated with that tree. So, yes, it seems like hen of the woods is a stronger candidate now.
Thank you for the clarification and quick response. There is root material right under and around the mushroom where it grows. Is there any poisonous alternative to the Hen of the Wood?
It's called the 'topple range', so now you can make it sound funny and throw in the biological lingo.
