Friend or Foe?

[Daniel Eagan]

Not really a question unless someone can identify this fungus seen on the trail to Stratton Mt. in Vermont on Friday.

http://mysite.verizon.net/daniel.eagan/Fungus_0656.jpg

 

[MichaelJ]

A coworker who knows this stuff confirmed it is neither slime mold nor lichen but could not identify the type of fungus. He also added "Good Lord! It's magnificent!"

 

[Fitz]

Old Man's Beard

I think it might be Old Man's Beard, aka lion's mane, pom pom, etc.

hericium erinaceus

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ceus&hl=en&rlz=1T4DKUS_enUS283US283&sa=G&um=1

Old Man's Beard is also another common name for it.

http://fiddlehead.smugmug.com/gallery/8209#201204086_Q42Vn

 

[MichaelJ]

Looks like it! However, despite its many "beard" variation names, I believe that "Old Man's Beard" is something else:
http://www.saletnik.org/gallery2/v/hiking/nh/hale-2009/IMG_4710.jpg.html

 

[nartreb]

I did a bit of research back in July to identify this

Species of Hericium have a confusing naming history. I think both yours and mine are H. Americanum, formerly known as H. coralloides.

Best guide I've found is:
Mushroom Expert: Hericium
(click on species names for photos and more detailed descriptions)

 

[Daniel Eagan]

I did a bit of research back in July to identify this

Pretty close match. Thanks.

 

[audrey]

Agreed, it's Hericium americanum, also known as bear's head tooth.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Would you all say this is the same thing?


A bit water-logged at this point, growing on the side of a tree on the way up Mt. Mansfield via the Long Trail from Smuggler's Notch.

Tim

 

[hikingmaineac]

I think it might be Old Man's Beard, aka lion's mane, pom pom, etc.

http://fiddlehead.smugmug.com/gallery/8209#201204086_Q42Vn

Wow... fiddlehead.smugmug has some pretty beautiful fungus shots!

 

[Pamola]

I've never heard of americanum being called bear's head tooth. What I learned, and in most books, it is coral hedgehog fungus.

Tim, your fungus looks more like bearded hedgehog, aka Hericium erinaceus.

All edible to boot.

 

[audrey]

The 1981 Audubon Field Guide to Mushrooms of N. America, and a Simon & Schuster guide both call it bear's head tooth.

A 2006 Falcon Guide (Miller & Miller) says that H. americanum is different from H. coralloides (aka H. ramosum), which has spines along the branches.
H. americanum spines are only at the tips of the branches.

Not to be outdone, the Peterson Field guide says coralloides and ramosum are two different species.

The only person I would ever trust picking mushrooms was my Lithuanian grandmother.

 

[eddie]

hmm...

All edible to boot.

Thanks for the tip in case I get lost on Stratton I know what to have for lunch. Probably pretty good with ketchup.