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cauliflower mushroom II


cauliflower mushroom II
Photo Information
Copyright: bob cat (bobcat08) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 379 W: 19 N: 361] (1431)
Genre: Fungi
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-15
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Canon G5
Exposure: f/2.2, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Dedications at TrekNature Part Two, Loot's Favourites 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-08 5:08
Viewed: 1259
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
I dedicate this mushroom especially to LOOT as a thanks for its appreciation of the other cauliflower mushroom. I found this mushroom in the Speulder en Sprielderforest nearby Putten, Garderen and Uddel in the centre of the Netherlands. This beautiful mushroom is about 25 a 30 cm width and ± 15 cm high. I put the camerabody on the ground and take then the photo. For a minitripod was the ground here to soft(needles)

Sparassis (also known as cauliflower mushrooms) is a genus of parasitic mushrooms characterised by their unique look. Its look can be described as similar to a sea sponge, a brain, or a head of cauliflower, from which it has been given its popular name.

They are increasingly cultivated and being sold in the USA and Australia, where they are locally known as white fungus.

The best-known and most widely collected species of Sparassis are S. crispa (found in Europe and eastern North America) and S. radicata (found in western North America). These species have a very similar appearance and some authorities treat them as conspecific. Their color can range from light brown-yellow to yellow-grey or a creamy white cauliflower colour. They are normally 10 to 25 cm tall, but can grow to be quite large, with reported cases of fruiting bodies more than half a meter tall and 14 kg in weight. Because of their unique look and size, they are unlikely to be mistaken it for any poisonous/inedible mushrooms. They parasitize the roots of various species of pine and spruce, and hence are always found growing close to a pine or spruce
tree.

Edibility

Sparassis crispa is apparently very tasty, but should be throughly cleaned before use as the folds can contain dirt and other material, as it grows and envelops objects around it such as pine needles. Antonio Carluccio reports that European Sparassis crispa should be picked when creamy white, and once yellow are too indigestible to eat. It is good for drying and reconstuting as it retains its cartilaginous texture and hence is good for soups.
Kathleen, NellyD, gracious, jazdzurka, uleko, loot, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To arfer: thanksbobcat08 1 03-23 02:35
To pablominto: thanksbobcat08 1 02-22 01:59
To marhowie: no more cats and dogsbobcat08 1 12-07 10:48
To loot: thank youbobcat08 1 11-29 02:52
To uleko: a bit luckbobcat08 1 11-10 06:51
To jignasi: muchos graciasbobcat08 1 11-09 10:58
To gracious: have a nice day and thanksbobcat08 1 11-08 12:00
To PaulH: lucky is the wordbobcat08 1 11-08 07:37
To NellyD: eer aan mijn vrouwbobcat08 1 11-08 07:30
To mariki: dank je welbobcat08 1 11-08 07:22
To jazdzurka: waiting and thanksbobcat08 1 11-08 07:19
To Kathleen: i missed himbobcat08 1 11-08 07:16
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bob.
Wow, you would not miss that one at that size, thats quite big 25 - 30cm across. Not seen anything like this one down under.
Great sharpness and detail with a wonderful composition. Great shot.

Kathleen

Hoi Bob,

Wow, dat is een mooi exemplaar die je daar gevonden hebt.
En je hebt er een mooie close-up van kunnen maken. Goeie details and compositie en een hele scherpe foto.
Goed gezien!

Groetjes, Nel

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1112 W: 23 N: 3660] (13089)
  • [2007-11-08 6:01]
  • [+]

Hi Bob,
what a beauty, amazing sharp detail and a superb low POV. I've never seen one like this before, thanks for sharing this!
Pul

Hello Bob,

Beautiful sharp picture of this fungi. Pleasant composition with the pines cones and the needles around it.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Bob,
This is trully a good shot!
you show us in perfect sharpness, vivid colour and so much details in this beautiful Mushroom!
very well done and thanks for sharing/notes
all the best
Tony

Buena profundidad y excelente iluminación.
Fieles colores. Buen socumento.

Saludos Bob.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2997 W: 162 N: 968] (2839)
  • [2007-11-10 3:30]
  • [+]

Hello Bob,
I don't know why I never manage to find one of these - I'd love to see it. Until I do I'm very pleased to look at yours. This is a splendid shot of a very large specimen. Fine sharp details, good light and natural colours.
Many thanks! Ulla

Hi Bob
Finally I have some time to write proper critique for your picture.
You have done very good job. Your object is not very easy to take picture. good depth of field - it is very difficult to take picture of the object that is so "deep" - you've managed with that. Also the colours are well and the background is nice uniform and soft.
Very informative note as well.
Congratulations
Ania

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5452 W: 594 N: 3651] (10033)
  • [2007-11-28 22:49]
  • [3] [+]

Hi Bob

I must acknowledge that I am sometimes like a bulldozer. It is slow and thus takes a wee while to arrive at its destination, but rest assure, there is no question about its dependability or its consistency and it is only a matter of time before it will arrive. Ok, so I finally arrived to find this unexpected pleasure in the dedication. Thanks so much and I really appreciate the gesture.

As I said with my previous critique (on your 1st posting of a cauliflower mushroom), I have never laid eyes on this interesting and fascinating fungus. Ok, so now I cannot claim that it is the first time I see one of these, but it still remains a very interesting and fascinating fungus. Imagine coming across one of these beauties having grown to its potential ˝ metre diameter and weighing in at 14kg. What a monstrous whopper. Image all those curls and folds lending to the magnificence of this fungus.

I always knew that a fungus is an organism that requires organic substrates to get its carbon for growth and development, but something I just learned from Wikipedia, is that a fungus is a heterotrophic organism, which means that it is called a "consumer in the food chain". Wow, I though it's only us humans that are classed as consumers. To go further, the article said that all animals, bacteria, and protozoa are also consumers. Well, that makes me feel like a supermarket with all the bacteria flying about ready to consume (chuckle). This is the opposite to plants (phototrophic) which are producers of food through the process of photosynthesis.

Anyway, back to your photo, a pleasant composition with lovely natural colours. The increase in shutter speed (compared to the previous shot) IMHO made for sharper details although you obviously had much less available light to work with. With the darkish and OOF tree as the BG and the needled forest floor as FG it worked well to contrast the cauliflower mushroom and make it stand out.

Good work and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Hi Bob,
Interesting fungus for it's shape & form..It really does look like a califlower :)
Well exposed with nice detail and color.
TFS & have a nice "clean" weekend ;}
Howard

Hello Bob,
This is quite a specimen!
The details are well captured, which is important for this kind of image...
Fine light and a good 3-D effect, a well composed presentation!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-24 20:03]
  • [+]

Hello Bob

A very interesting and unique looking mushroom.I have never seen anything like it.
You have captured the detail and texture of it very well.
Wonderful natural colours and very good illumination.
The shroom fills the frame well.
TFS

Rob

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