Rigidoporus laetus

The fruitbody is a polypore that is shelf-like in form and of a leathery or firm rubbery texture. It may grow to 20 cm in diameter and a centimetre or two thick, where it is attached to its woody substrate. The upper surface may show some radial wrinkling or other undulations, but the surface is smooth and brownish-orange, except for a paler (almost creamy) edge. The pored underside is whiteish-orange to orange (the latter with age). Several fruitbodies may grow close together in tiers.  

 It occurs on dead wood in a variety of habitats.

 The first description of this species was published in 1883 (as Polyporus laetus), based on a specimen collected in Victoria. It has long been known from Australia and New Zealand.

 Look-alikes

The species is fairly distinctive. Laetiporus sulphureus (not yet reported from this region) also produces tiered fruitbodies (of similar thickness) in which the upper surfaces are yellow to orange-yellow, but the pore surface is vivid yellow.  Pseudoinonotus chondromyelus may show somewhat similar colours in the upper surface but it has brown pores on the underside (or greyish if viewed from a shallow angle). Piptoporus australiensis has a white upper surface that, with age, stains yellow to brown. The pored underside is bright orange and the fruitbody smells of curry. Furthermore, the latter pair are much thicker than Rigidoporus laetus where they are attached to the wood, giving them a much ‘chunkier’ look.