Lion's mane or Coral tooth

There is no true cap. The fruiting body is a solid, rounded, cushion-like mass 5 to 25, occasionally up to 40 centimeters across, attached to the trunk by a short base. From the underside and front, numerous dense, soft spines 1 to 5 centimeters long or longer hang down like a beard or mane. The color is pure white when young, cream or yellowish with age, and brownish when old. The white "beard" of long spines makes this mushroom unlike anything else.

There is no true cap. The fruiting body is coral-like and heavily branched, 4 to 18 centimeters wide and tall, made up of numerous branches that fan out from a common base. From the underside of the branches hang numerous delicate, soft spines a few millimeters long. The color is snow white or cream when young; with age the branches and spines take on a yellowish-brown tint. The white "coral" structure with tiny spines is recognizable at first glance.

The hymenophore consists of long, hanging spines, on whose surface the spores form. There are no gills or tubes. The spore print is white. Long, soft spines gathered into a single beard (rather than on branches, as in coral tooth) are the key diagnostic feature of the species.

The hymenophore consists of spines hanging from the underside of the branching twigs. It is on the surface of these spines that the spores form. The spore print is white. A spiny hymenophore instead of gills or tubes is a hallmark of the Hericium genus, making these mushrooms unlike anything else.

There is no distinct stem; the fruiting body is attached to the wood by a short lateral base. The whole mass is fairly dense and springy when young, becoming brittle with age, and the spines turn fragile. Because it grows high on trunks, the mushroom is often noticed only from below, as a white fluffy cushion on an old tree.

There is no distinct stem; the fruiting body is attached to the wood by a short common base from which the branches spread. The base is whitish and firm. The whole structure is fairly brittle, especially in mature mushrooms, when the spines become fragile.

The flesh is white, tender and springy-fibrous, and doesn't change color when cut. The taste is pleasant and delicate, and the texture is reminiscent of crab or lobster meat, which is why chefs especially prize this mushroom. With age, as the fruiting body turns yellow, the flesh becomes bitter and tough, so only young white specimens are chosen for the table.

The flesh is white and tender, juicy and springy in young mushrooms, with a pleasant taste reminiscent of crab or chicken. It doesn't change color when cut. With age, as the fruiting body turns yellow, the flesh hardens and takes on a slightly bitter taste, so only young white specimens are chosen for the table.

The smell is faint, pleasant and mushroomy, with no sharp notes. Aroma is not a defining feature; the mushroom is recognized by its unique white cushion with a long beard of hanging spines and by its growth on the trunks of old broadleaf trees.

The smell is faint, pleasant and mushroomy, with no sharp notes. Aroma is not a defining feature; the mushroom is recognized by its unique white coral-like shape with delicate hanging spines and by its growth on dead broadleaf wood.