HOWARD — Homeowner Harry Bales said he first noticed the large fungi growing under an oak tree outside his Apple Valley home last week.
“I was born and raised in the hills and I’ve never seen anything like them,” Bales said.
The fungi began growing in a creamy color, then grew into a vivid orange. Reminiscent of coral one would see at the bottom of an ocean, the fungi are soft to the touch. And they are bigger than dinner plates.
According to several Web sites, the clusters of rosettes appear to be examples of Laetiporus cincinnatus, a variation of the fungi known as “Chicken of the Woods.”
“Chicken of the Woods” grow near oak trees, in summer and fall, east of the Rocky Mountains.
Wild mushrooms and fungi should never be eaten without expert guidance, as they can be poisonous, and cause severe adverse reactions.