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The eastern North American cauliflower mushroom: a rounded mass of tightly packed, curly, noodle-like branches growing from the base of pines. North American authors long called it Sparassis crispa, a name now restricted to the European species. It is a pathogen and saprobe that causes a brown butt rot and often reappears at the same tree for years.
Species-level edibility is not documented in reference sources. Related Sparassis (S. crispa, S. radicata, S. spathulata) are reported edible, eastern material long called "S. crispa" probably included this species, and one forager reports eating it; treat this as unconfirmed. Coral fungi (Ramaria, some GI-toxic) differ in having separate upright branches rather than flattened, curly lobes from one base.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
