This giant mushroom is being worshipped by superstitious locals who claim to have seen smoke emerging from its stalk.<br /><br />Locals gathered to worship the bizarre fungus after it was mysteriously found growing next to a roadside restaurant in Uthai Thani, central Thailand.<br /><br />Pranom Inthaphun, 59, first noticed what was a tiny mushroom poking through the concrete floor of his shop in December 2018.<br /><br />Workers attempted to get rid of the fungus but its root was too strong, which made it difficult to pull out through the hard surface.<br /><br />After seven months of growing, the huge mushroom now measures 32 centimetres wide with a brown and hard woody texture.<br /><br />Some customers claim to have seen the lingzhi-like mushroom also producing a strange smog from under the canopy, which they believe will bring them good fortune.<br /><br />Footage taken yesterday (July 8) shows how a special protective wall has been built around the mushroom, while locals have been giving it offerings of garlands, fruit juice, and incense.<br /><br />Pranom, the restaurant owner, said: ''I was very surprised to see the mushroom could break through the floor while other plants couldn't. <br /><br />''The smoke didn't come very often but it looked like white pollens and would turn red when falling to the ground.''<br /><br />Pranom also believes that the mushroom is a potential source of prosperity for her and her family.<br /><br />''I took a good care of it because I think there's an angel living there. I bring him water and food every morning to pay respect to him,'' she added.
