Hericium coralloides

Hericium coralloides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Russulales
Family:	Hericiaceae
Genus:	Hericium
Species:	H. coralloides
Binomial name
Hericium coralloides (Scop.) Pers.

Hericium coralloides Mycological characteristics
	Teeth on hymenium
	No distinct cap
	Hymenium attachment is not applicable
	Lacks a stipe
	Spore print is white
	Ecology is saprotrophic
	Edibility is edible

Hericium coralloides is a saprotrophic fungus, commonly known as coral tooth fungus ^[1] or comb coral mushroom. ^[2]

Description

The fruiting body is 4–18 centimetres (1+1⁄2–7 in) across, whitish, and heavily branched and toothed. Both the flesh and the spore print are white. ^[3]

Similar species

It resembles Hericium abietis and H. erinaceus . ^[3]

Distribution and habitat

It is found throughout North America, Eurasia and Australia, growing on dead hardwood trees. It can be found from July to October in the east and November to March in the west. ^[3]

Uses

The species is edible and good ^[4] when young, but as it ages the branches and hanging spines become brittle and turn a light shade of yellowish brown.

References

1. Woehrel, Mary L.; Light, William H. (2017-11-01). Mushrooms of the Georgia Piedmont and Southern Appalachians: A Reference. University of Georgia Press. ISBN   978-0-8203-5003-5.
2. Russell, Bill (2017-08-01). Field Guide to Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic: Revised and Expanded Edition. Penn State Press. ISBN   978-0-271-08028-4.
3. Audubon (2023). Mushrooms of North America. Knopf. p. 162. ISBN   978-0-593-31998-7.
4. Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 327. ISBN   978-1-55407-651-2.