Laetiporus gilbertsonii
July 19, 2012
Trail from White Wolf to Harden Lake
This charred red fir stump in the recently burned area near Harden Lake was oozing with Sulfur Shelf Fungus. These bright yellow/orange polypore mushrooms are fairly common throughout certain parts of Yosemite since the fungus body, growing within the wood of a variety of tree species, requires little moisture in order to fruit. This particular clustering was saturated with water after some rain earlier in the day. This is one of the showier fungi participating in the backcountry recycling program that will help convert this charred stump back into forest nutrients and new forms of life.