sparassis

Found throughout the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, Sparassis radicata is actually a weak parasite that feeds on conifers, but isn't very deadly.

Looking at it, I remember its Latin name, Sparassis crispa, and that it is a parasite on conifers.

The teacher plucked the fungus off the stump, held it aloft, and proclaimed it a cauliflower mushroom, Sparassis radicata.

They turned up more than 50 species, including this handsome, rather large and entirely edible Sparassis crispa, the cauliflower mushroom.