Brain Fungus
Sparassis crispa · Family Sparassidaceae · Updated October 2026
334US records
26states
Augbusiest month
334 US records since 1899 (68 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Nov 3, 2019 (about 7 years ago) near Belleplain, Cape May County, NJ, a field observation from Fungi of parks, forests and reserves of New Jersey (2007-2019). Most US records come from New Jersey, Tennessee and Pennsylvania, and the busiest months are Aug, Oct and Jul. (Data as of October 26, 2026; records can lag by weeks.)
⚠ Never eat a wild mushroom based on this site. We show where fungi have been recorded, nothing more. We never say any mushroom is edible or safe, and you shouldn't decide that from any website, app or photo. Many deadly mushrooms look like harmless ones. If someone may have eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Lookalike warning. Many mushrooms, including deadly ones, closely resemble each other, and the only reliable identification comes from an expert looking at the actual specimen (often with spore prints or microscopy). Never use a name, photo or record count on this page to decide what something is.
When it's recorded
Records by month, all years. Busiest: Aug, Oct, Jul.
Where it's recorded
Top counties
- Sussex County, NJ (36) · latest Sep 28, 2019
- Ocean County, NJ (29) · latest Oct 26, 2019
- Mercer County, NJ (23) · latest May 4, 2019
- Morris County, NJ (22) · latest Jul 20, 2019
- Burlington County, NJ (19) · latest Oct 6, 2018
- Blount County, TN (17) · latest Oct 2, 2017
- Hunterdon County, NJ (15) · latest Aug 25, 2019
- Wabaunsee County, KS (14)
- Monmouth County, NJ (13) · latest Aug 22, 2015
- Middlesex County, NJ (12) · latest Aug 18, 2019
More on this species from GBIF.
Bring along
🍄
Regional mushroom field guideSee on Amazon🍄
Folding mushroom knife with brushSee on Amazon🍄
Wicker foraging basketSee on Amazon🍄
10x hand lens / loupeSee on Amazon🍄
Spore print paperSee on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.