A striking white "pom-pom" of long delicate spines that grows from tree wounds and dead wood. Famously delicious — texture and flavor reminiscent of crab or lobster.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Hericium erinaceus, commonly known as lion's mane, yamabushitake, bearded tooth fungus, or bearded hedgehog, is a species of tooth fungus. It tends to grow in a single clump with dangling spines longer than 1 centimetre. It can be mistaken for other Hericium species that grow in the same areas.
Source: Wikipedia — Hericium erinaceus Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Distinctive snowy-white cascade of soft spines (looks like a "lion's mane"). No cap or gills.
Similar species. Other Hericium species (similar appearance, different spine arrangement). No toxic look-alikes.
Voice. N/A
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Saprotrophic — decomposes hardwood (oak, beech, sweetgum).
Behavior. Fruits from wounds and broken branches of living trees and on dead wood. Studied for potential brain-health properties (hericenones, erinacines).
§ Range
Eastern North America and Pacific Northwest
§ Habitat
Decaying hardwood logs and standing dead trees, especially beech and oak
§ Threats
Loss of mature hardwood forests, removal of dead and dying trees, overharvest.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the lion's mane is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Leave dead and dying hardwoods standing where safe. Don't over-collect from single fruitings.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Hericium erinaceus
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Hericium erinaceus
- iNaturalist · taxon 118018
- IUCN Red List — search for Hericium erinaceus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Hericium erinaceus
§ Sources cited
- North American Mycological Association
- Mycological Society of America
- iNaturalist
