Sparassis radicata Weir
Phytopathology 7: 166. 1917

Common Name: cauliflower mushroom

Missaplied name: Sparassis crispa (Wulf.) Fr.

• Sporocarp

  Fruiting body 20 cm broad, 40 cm tall, sometimes larger, a rounded mass of flattened, wavy, leaf-like branches, white to pale yellow; branch edges discoloring brown in age; arising from a large root-like sterile base, the upper portion appearing chambered when sectioned, solid below; flesh white. Hymenium on the flattened surfaces of the fruiting body. Odor fragrant, somewhat spicy.

• Spores

  Spores 5-7 X 3-5 µm elliptical, smooth. Spore deposit white.

• Habitat

  Usually solitary at the base of conifers, especially Bishop and Monterey pine; fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Edible and choice, but cleaning debris from the branches can be a deterrent.

• Comments

  As its common name suggests, the densely branched fruiting body of Sparassis radicata resembles a cauliflower. Initially creamy-buff in color, the long-lived fruiting bodies gradually darken in age, especially along the branch edges. Sparassis radicata is believed to be parasitic on conifers. Affected trees produce annual fruitings, sometimes bushel basket in size. The size, color, and flattened branch structure of Sparassis radicata distinguish it from other members of the coral group.

  There has long been confusion whether Sparassis radicata is distinct from S. crispa. Molecular analysis has now shown that the western S. radicata is a separate species from the eastern S. americana and the European S. crispa.

• References

  Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 959 p.
  Burdsall Jr., H.H. & Miller Jr., O.K. (1988). Type studies and nomenclatural considerations in the genus Sparassis. Mycotaxon 31(1): 199-206.
  Dai, Y.-C. , Wang, Z., Binder, M. & Hibbett, D.S. (2006). Phylogeny and a new species of Sparassis (Polyporales, Basidiomycota): evidence from mitochondrial atp6, nuclear rDNA and rpb2 genes. Mycologia 98(4): 584-592.
  Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
  Gilbertson, R.L. (1974). Fungi That Decay Ponderosa Pine. University of Arizona Press: Tuscon, AZ. 197 p.
  Light, W, & Woehrel, M. (2009). Clarification of the Nomenclatural Confusion of the Genus Sparassis [Polyporales: Sparassidaceae] in North America. Fungi 2(4): 10-15. (PDF)
  Martin, K.J. & Gilbertson, R.L. (1976). Cultural and Other Morphological Studies of Sparassis radicata and Related Species. Mycologia 68(3): 622-639.
  Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p. (PDF)
  Wang, Z., Binder, M., Dai, Y.-C. & Hibbett, D.S. (2004). Phylogenetic relationships of Sparassis inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial ribosomal DNA and RNA polymerase sequences. Mycologia 96(5): 1015-1029.
  Weir, J.R. (1919). Sparassis radicata, an undescribed fungus on the roots of conifers. Phytopathology 7: 166-177. (Protologue)

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  Main Photo
  • Fred Stevens: Sparassis radicata (CP)
  • Ryan Snow: Sparassis radicata (CP)
  • Michael Boom: Sparassis radicata (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Sparassis radicata (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Sparassis radicata (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Sparassis radicata (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Sparassis radicata (CP)
  • Bob West: Sparassis radicata (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Sparassis crispa (CP) — Although this S. crispa is from Scotland, it looks like our California mushroom
  • Handbook to Additional Fungal Species of Special Concern in the NW Forest Plan: Sparassis crispa (D & CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Sparassis radicata (CP)
  • MushroomExpert.com: Sparassis radicata (D & CP)
  • Wikipedia: Sparassis (D & CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 657 (D), plate 172 (CP) [as Sparassis crispa]
  • Arora (1991): p. 209 (D & CP)
  • Fischer & Bessette: p. 115 (D), p. 116 (CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 412 (D), plate 755 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 183 (D & CP)
  • Miller: sp. 275 (D & CP)
  • Smith: sp. 28 (D & CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)