Czech record set by 15.5 kg mushroom discovery in Tachovsko

A mushroom hunter in the Tachovsko region of the Czech Republic has discovered a giant parasitism fungus (kotrč kadeřavý) that has set a new national record. Josef Cudrák found the specimen near the village of Vysočany, weighing 15.5 kilograms with a circumference of 181 centimeters.

Experts, including mycologist Pavel Hruška, noted the rarity of the find, stating that such fungi typically only reach the size of a football. The discovery surpasses the previous Czech record of 7.5 kilograms set in 2020. Mycologist Libor Hejl identified the specimen as a relatively rare species that often grows under firs and spruces.

Cudrák used a portion of the mushroom to make a specialized soup and shared the remainder with friends and acquaintances.