Hericium erinaceus Persoon
Mycol. Europ. 2: 153. 1825.

Common Name: Lion's Mane

• Sporocarp

  Fruiting body annual, 10-20 cm broad at maturity, rounded to elongate, a mass of overlapping, slender, pendant spines arising from a short, unbranched, sometimes rooted stalk; spines up to 5-6 cm long, the tips pointed, white when fresh, becoming yellowish to yellowish-brown in age; flesh whitish, tough; odor and taste mild.

• Spores

  Spores 5-6 x 4-5.5 µm, nearly round, smooth to slightly roughened, amyloid; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Solitary from branch scars of living hardwoods or on fallen logs; fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Edible and choice; best when young and the teeth still white to cream.

• Comments

  Of the three Hericiums that occur in the S.F. Bay Area, H. erinaceus is the most recognizable, with a rounded, unbranched, fruiting body composed of pendant, long, slender, white to cream, teeth. Close relatives include Hericium abietis which has a compact, branching structure with shorter, clustered teeth, found on conifer logs, and Hericium ramosum, sparsely branched with short teeth that tend to be arranged in rows, also found on hardwoods.

• References

  Hall, D. & Stuntz, D.E. (1971). Pileate Hydnaceae of the Puget Sound Area. I. White-Spored Genera: Auriscalpium, Hericium, Dentinum and Phellodon. Mycologia 63(6): 1099-1128.
  Harrison, K.A. (1973). The Genus Hericium in North America. Michigan Botanist 12: 177-194.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Fred Stevens: Hericium erinaceus (CP)
  • Bob West: Hericium erinaceus (CP)
  • Bob West: Hericium erinaceus (CP)
  • Nathan Wilson: Hericium erinaceus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Hericium erinaceus (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Hericium erinaceus (CP)
  • Robert Rich: Hericium erinaceus (D & CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Hericium erinaceus (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 615 (D & P)
  • Arora (1991): p. 200 (D & CP)
  • Jordan: p. 91 (D & CP) [Hericium erinaceum]
  • Lincoff: p. 430 (D), plate 547 (CP)
  • Orr & Orr: p. 56 (D), plate 17 (CP)
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 37 (D & CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)