Bear's Head Tooth Fungus - Hericium americanum

~15 cm wide and consisting of branches arising from a rooting base. The spines were densely packed and were hanging from the branches in clusters. The fruiting body would normally be white, but this specimen wasn't fresh and was turning yellowish brown.

Habitat: Growing on hardwood (Carya sp., I think)

comments (12)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Absolutely gorgeous, what a find. Love the composition and perspective too, it's like being there. Posted 2 months ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, it was awesome! I would have gotten shots from some other perspectives, but this fungus was more than 6 feet up the tree, and well...as you know, I am vertically challenged. Posted 2 months ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    It's fine, it looks even more intimidating from this frog perspective ;) Posted 2 months ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      *whistle, croak, ribbit, peep, cluck, bark, grunt* Posted 2 months ago

Greg Shchepanek

Lion

So very beautiful Christine, a wonderful and brilliant capture and spotting...I love love it! Posted 2 months ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Greg! It was a nice surprise for sure! Posted 2 months ago

Barry

Lion

Wonderful - literally! Posted 2 months ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Barry :) Posted 2 months ago

Ernst

Lion

This sort of find is what makes it all worthwhile. Something to dream about. Posted 2 months ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Yes!! I almost always *gasp* when I find things like this. Posted 2 months ago

Paul Dirksen

Lion

More than beautiful Christine, photo too Posted 2 months ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! Posted 2 months ago

The Bear's head tooth fungus

''Hericium americanum'', commonly known as the bear's head tooth fungus, is an edible mushroom in the tooth fungus group. It was described as new to science in 1984 by Canadian mycologist James Herbert Ginns.

Info 10 0

Similar species: Russulales

Species identified by Christine Young