# Gaaaaaaaaaaaa!! Giant fungus among us! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 30, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465 "2008-04-30T14:41:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/1 "2008-04-30T14:41:58Z")
Well, at least among **me!** [This](http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m178/robinb728/?action=view¤t=fungus019.jpg) is growing on the tree in my backyard. :eek: And it seems to double in size every night! Right now it’s a good 18 inches across and 12 inches high and sticks out from the tree by about 8 inches or so. [Here’s](http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m178/robinb728/?action=view¤t=fungus018.jpg) another picture with my creepy tree face for a bit of scale. I’m afraid that I’m going to come out tomorrow and find my tree face completely devoured by the fungus. If you’ll notice, it’s grown right around a couple of twigs so I’m sure the face poses no challenge to it. What the hell is it and do I need to worry that I’m going to wake up and find it standing over me in the dead of night!? It looks disconcertingly like yellow braaaiiiins… ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/2 "2008-04-30T14:43:53Z")
You’re going to have to take off and nuke it orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/3 "2008-04-30T14:49:36Z")
No way. I’m not touching that thing. I mean, what if it has friends??? ---
**Author:** ![Soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/4 "2008-04-30T14:49:58Z")
[http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/cat\_steve\_dont\_eat\_it.php](http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/cat_steve_dont_eat_it.php) Scroll down almost all the way to the bottom and read about the “Tree Brain.” Looks like you’ve got one there yourself! Although I wouldn’t eat it unless I was absolutely sure. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/5 "2008-04-30T14:51:54Z")
What you have there is called [Chicken of the woods](http://www.rivernen.ca/fungi_19.htm) and it’s one of the most highly-prized edible fungi. I jealous. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/6 "2008-04-30T14:58:54Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] What you have there is called [Chicken of the woods](http://www.rivernen.ca/fungi_19.htm) and it’s one of the most highly-prized edible fungi. I jealous. [/QUOTE] You are more than welcome to come and remove it from my tree. In fact, I **encourage** you to. Frankly, it creeps me out. And there’s no way I’m putting that thing in my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/7 "2008-04-30T15:01:48Z")
Yeah, those are super yummy, I buy them at the farmers market for a good chunk o’ change. Sauteed with ramps and garlic, Mmm springy! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/8 "2008-04-30T15:13:27Z")
[QUOTE=Surly Chick] You are more than welcome to come and remove it from my tree. In fact, I **encourage** you to. Frankly, it creeps me out. And there’s no way I’m putting that thing in my mouth. [/QUOTE] Alas, I fear the journey from The Kingdom of Butter to Leaffanville would render this impractical, otherwise, I’d be there like a shot. I’ve never eaten this fungus before, but all of my books say it’s one of the very best - and everyone I’ve spoken to online and IRL seems to heartily agree. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/9 "2008-04-30T15:49:46Z")
You could always claim that you see Jeebus, his Mom, C. Estes Kefauver, or some other deity in the shape, and then collect an admission fee from the flocking faithfools who want to get a flocking look. Then sell it on eBay, go on Orpah, and write a book about it. Prophet! ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/10 "2008-04-30T15:56:48Z")
[QUOTE=Soul] [http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/cat\_steve\_dont\_eat\_it.php](http://www.thesneeze.com/mt-archives/cat_steve_dont_eat_it.php) Scroll down almost all the way to the bottom and read about the “Tree Brain.” Looks like you’ve got one there yourself! Although I wouldn’t eat it unless I was absolutely sure. [/QUOTE] That blog was equal parts horrifying and fascinating. I may never eat again. ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/11 "2008-04-30T16:30:29Z")
I’d offer to remove and consume said fungi but, having no idea where leaffanville is and no idea whether or not it is a yummy tree brain I’ll have to pass. If someone does take the plunge then a culinary review would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/12 "2008-04-30T16:35:15Z")
I got news for you… that’s not a tree, it’s an Ent! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/13 "2008-04-30T16:58:05Z")
Oooooh. Chicken of the woods. You’re a lucky scamp. You should suck it up and try it. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/14 "2008-04-30T17:04:00Z")
Having never tried it, I have to ask: Does chicken of the woods taste like chicken? ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/15 "2008-04-30T17:19:31Z")
[QUOTE=Surly Chick] And there’s no way I’m putting that thing in my mouth. [/QUOTE] That’s what _she_ said. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/16 "2008-04-30T17:20:28Z")
I have to say, **Fungus Among Us** would be a great band name. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/17 "2008-04-30T17:28:22Z")
Cut off hunks and sell it on ebay! ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/18 "2008-04-30T17:58:33Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] Cut off hunks and sell it on ebay! [/QUOTE] Considering it practically doubles in size every day, I could have quite the little business going. But like I said, I’m not touching that thing - it may have fungus friends. And I’m pretty sure it’s sentient… **nd\_n8** , Leaffanville is a little known neighborhood in Hamburg, apparently home of Chicken of the Woods. Although I really think it should be called Chicken of the Tree… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/19 "2008-04-30T18:15:17Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] You could always claim that you see Jeebus, his Mom, C. Estes Kefauver, or some other deity in the shape, and then collect an admission fee from the flocking faithfools who want to get a flocking look. Then sell it on eBay, go on Orpah, and write a book about it. Prophet! [/QUOTE] And profit. 😉 The color of Chicken of the Woods looks very much like the color of chicken bullion cubes. Though I have heard stories of their legendary tastiness, I’m going to be imagining them tasting largely of salt until I get a chance to try them myself. ---
**Author:** ![masterofnone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@masterofnone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/masterofnone)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465/20 "2008-04-30T19:03:31Z")
I bought mushroom plug spawn this year to grow these. Yup, you heard right… I want a giant brain fungus! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaaaaaaaaaaaa-giant-fungus-among-us/447465.md?page=2)