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cauliflower mushroom


cauliflower mushroom
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: 2005-10-08
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Canon G5
Exposure: f/2.2, 1/40 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-21 2:21
Viewed: 1035
Points: 9
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
During a bikeriding in the neightbourhood of Breda on the Strijbeekse heide I saw this beautiful fungi. I left the grass on it incase of a naturel emanation. I hope you like this.

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.
pablominto, Kathleen, LordPotty, uleko, loot has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To loot: thanksbobcat08 3 06-28 02:39
To uleko: thank youbobcat08 3 06-23 13:35
To LordPotty: thanksbobcat08 2 06-22 20:32
To Kathleen: what a mushroombobcat08 5 06-22 02:54
To pablominto: Thank youbobcat08 1 06-21 06:44
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Bob,
That is an interesting specimen!
I don't think I have seen this before, but you capture it well with clear colours and fine details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Bob.
I have not seen one like this, very interesting. Colour and detail good, slightly out of focus in the front but I see you were on a F/2, not giving you much depth of field.
It is great to see other fungi in other places.
Wonderful

Kathleen
New Zealand

I love this one Bob.
The exposure, colour and details are great even though the DOF isn't perfect.
I've never seen this mushroom before either.
An excellent new addition to Trek Natures collection of strange fungi.
Cheers, Steve

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2007-06-23 4:22]
  • [+]

Hello Bob,
Very fine capture of this Cauliflower fungus!
We have them here too but so far I've never managed to find it! Pretty sharp and a clear illustration of its shape and colour.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5451 W: 594 N: 3650] (10031)
  • [2007-06-27 4:32]
  • [2] [+]

Hi Bob

A very interesting and fascinating fungus. Although I am not into fungi photography I have learned to enjoy and appreciate the remarkable shapes, sizes, and colours from the amazing world of these lovely parasites. I have never seen this one before and after doing some research on TN I came to the conclusion that this is the first posting of a cauliflower mushroom therefore I have added it to my "RARE & SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN" theme.

I like the fact that you kept the scenery very natural by keeping the pine needles in the shot. Although the DOF was rather critical resulting in a little loss of details the shot still came out quite fine. It seems like you had enough light to work with and I assume the camera mode was on auto, but the large aperture (F/2.2) setting resulted in the shallow DOF and the slow shutter speed (1/40 seconds) probably ended up with a little camera shake. The possible solution here would have been to increase the ISO setting so that you could improve on the f/stop and on the shutter speed and it would most definitely have resulted in a sharper photo. The colours are nice and natural and the exposure actually came out very well.

Good effort and TFS.
Regards
Loot

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