Sparassis crispa - Wood Cauliflower

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Polyporales

Family: Sparassidaceae

This massive fungus - sometimes several attaining a weight of several kg - grows at the bases of pine trees and occasionally other softwoods in summer and autumn. Commonly referred to as the Wood Cauliflower, it is edible when young.

Although in the wild this fungus is parasitic on the roots of coniferous trees, it can be grown successfully in cultivation, and there are even reports of its culture on heaps of softwood sawdust.

Identification Guide

	The fruitbody c omprises many leaf-like lobes, curled and contorted; creamy white and fairly brittle when young, becoming browner and tougher with age.
Dimensions	10 to 25cm tall; up to 40cm across.
Other features	Edible when young, but this fungus should not be eaten when it begins turning brown.
Spore print	Off-white.
Odour/taste	Faint sweet smell; taste of hazel nuts..
Habitat	On the ground beside conifer trees, particularly Scots Pine.
Season	July to October.
Occurrence	Fairly frequent where conifers grow at the edge of a forest or along firebreaks and woodland tracks; less common in very dark forests.
Similar species	Grifola frondosa is found at the bases of oak trees and also forms a similar cauliflower-like shap,e but its fan-shaped segments have pores on the underside; it is grey-brown.