How to identify Lion's Mane, Hedgehog Mushroom, Bearded Tooth Fungus, Satyr's Beard, Pom Pom Mushroom

To correctly identify Lion's Mane, Hedgehog Mushroom, Bearded Tooth Fungus, Satyr's Beard, Pom Pom Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   Lion's Mane does not have a distinct cap in the traditional sense. The spines emerge from a central base.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   Absent. Instead, it has spines.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   Absent or indistinct. The fruit body attaches directly to the substrate.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   The flesh is white, firm, and succulent when young. As it matures, it can become slightly tougher and may develop a slightly bitter taste.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   The fruit body is globose to subglobose, 5-35 cm in diameter. It is composed of long, pendulous spines, ranging from 1-6 cm in length. The color is typically white to creamy white when fresh, yellowing with age or upon handling.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Grows on dead or dying hardwood trees, particularly oak, beech, maple, and birch. It is saprophytic, meaning it obtains nutrients from decaying organic matter, but can also be a weak parasite on living trees.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

N/A (no distinct cap)

Growth Form

Globose, with pendent spines.

Spore Print

White

Body color

White to creamy white when young, yellowing with age.

Odor

Slightly sweet, seafood-like, or earthy.

Flesh bruises

Does not typically bruise.

Height

5-35 cm diameter

Cap Diameter

N/A

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Absent (spines present)
• Stem shape: Absent or indistinct
• Stem surface: N/A
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: N/A

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