Sparassis crispa

| |
Sparassis crispa

11 October 2010 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin.

Common Name

Cauliflower Fungus

Fruiting Body

A sub-spherical mass of irregularly curled flat fronds growing from a short thick stem, cream to pale yellowish brown, to about 30 cm across

Flesh

Whitish, firm

Smell

Pleasant, scented

Taste

Pleasant

Season

Autumn

Distribution

Frequent

Habitat

At the base of living and dead conifers, attached to the roots

Spore Print

Whitish

Microscopic Features

Spores pip shaped, smooth (5-7) x (4-5) µm2

Edibility

Edible, excellent

Sparassis crispa

16 October 2020 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin.