Sparassis crispa

On soil, associated with conifer roots, preferably Pinus, with hemispherical basidiomes resembling a sponge or cauliflower, 10 to 30 cm in diameter, cream to brownish; fungal odor and sweet taste.

Hyphal system monomitic, with contextual hyphae cylindrical, hyaline, thin-walled, 3 to 10 µm in diameter, septate and mostly clamped; tramal hyphae moderately thick-walled, hyaline, with inflations up to 30 µm.

Cystidia absent.

Basidia cylindrical-clavate, 45 to 50 µm long, 6 to 7 µm wide, with basal clamp connections and four-spored.

Spores ovoid, smooth, hyaline, thin-walled, with an eccentric apiculus at one end, 5 to 7 µm long, 4 to 5 µm wide, containing one or more oil droplets or guttules inside, and inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.