Good Sized Sparassis on a Plate
For some people, finding a basketball-sized fungus resembling a yellow brain would make a walk in the woods turn into a nightmare. For hiker and semi-amateur mycologist Linda Quiring, the recent discovery of Sparassis radicata was reason to celebrate.
Typical "Brain Fungus" (Sparassis) (Damon W. Smith)
Not exactly sure what a semi-amateur mycologist is, but so be it. See Hiker and mushroom fan shares gigantic prize by Elizabeth Nolan. Many sources state that Sparassis crispa is the preferred name.
More on Sparassis:
Sparassis radicata at Mushroom Expert
Sparrasis radicata at Mushroom Observer
Ooooh, the first time I came across one of those, it was rather delightful! (and all the subsequent times as well). (photographic evidence here: http://skepticwonder.blogspot.com/2008/08/i-promised-pictures-of-slime-moulds.html )
My mycologist friend later spent an entire afternoon sniffing it…
I love the texture though!
Would this one be a Basidiomycete?