Hedgehog mushroom

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Homobasidiomycetae
Subclass: Hymenomycetes
Order: Cantharellales
Family: Hydnaceae
Genus: Hydnum
Species: H. repandum
Binomial name
Hydnum repandum
L., Fr., 1821

Hydnum repandum, commonly known as the Wood Hedgehog or Hedgehog mushroom, is an edible basidiomycete mushroom of the family Hydnaceae. It is notable for its spore-bearing structures which are shaped like teeth rather than gills.

It is broadly distributed in North America and Europe and found singly or in groups in coniferous or deciduous woodland.

DNA studies have indicated a close relationship to the golden Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius).[1]

Contents

Description

Detail of the spines.

The orange-, yellow- or tan-colored pileus (cap) is up to 6 inches (15 cm) wide and generally somewhat irregular in shape (it may be convex or concave at maturity). The underside is covered with small white spines (5–6 mm long) reminiscent of those of a hedgehog. The stipe (stem), typically 2–10 cm long and 0.6–2 cm thick, is either white or the same color as the cap, and is sometimes off-center. The spore print is white. Spores are 6.5–10 x 6.5–8 µm, roughly spherical, and smooth. There is a pure white form of this species known as H. repandum var. album.

Habitat

H. repandum is a fairly common species, and is found on the ground in both coniferous and deciduous forests.

Edibility

Although distinctive in appearance, the hedgehog mushroom can be confused with non-edible species. The hedgehog mushroom is considered to be a good edible, having a sweet, nutty taste and a crunchy texture. Older specimens may have a mildly bitter taste.

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ^ "Hydnum repandum (MushroomExpert.Com)". Retrieved on 2008-11-13.

References

Beers, Alma Holland; Coker, William S. (1970). Stipitate Hydnums of the Eastern United States, Lubrecht & Cramer Ltd. ISBN 3-7682-0695-5. 

Foy, Nicky; Phillips, Roger; Kibby, Geoffrey (1991). Mushrooms of North America. Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 0-316-70613-2. 



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