White hedgehog or Jelly tooth

Cap 3–12 cm, plano-convex when young; in old ones the margin is often uneven and wavy, or the cap slightly depressed. Creamy white or pale yellowish, sometimes almost pure white. Surface matte, slightly sticky in wet weather, dry and faintly rough in dry weather.

The fruit body is jelly-like, tongue-, fan-, spoon- or shell-shaped, attached at the side, and usually a few centimetres across.

The top is finely hairy at first, then almost smooth, faintly granular or suede-like. The colour varies a lot: translucent white, watery grey, grey-brown or brown, sometimes bluish grey and occasionally almost black, even on the same stump.

Instead of gills or tubes, it has distinctive soft spines (teeth) hanging from the underside of the cap. The spines are creamy white, turning yellowish with age, and 2–7 mm long. Spore print white.

The underside is covered in crowded, soft, translucent spines 1 to 4 mm long, white or greyish, which carry on down the stem.

The spore print is white.

Stem 2–7 cm tall, 1–2 cm thick, cylindrical or slightly narrowing toward the base. Same colour as the cap or slightly paler. Surface smooth, with no ring or volva.

The stem is short, attached at the side or off-centre, watery grey or whitish. On flat surfaces it can be longer and more central, and sometimes it's almost absent.

Flesh white, springy and juicy in young mushrooms, toughish and brittle in old ones. Does NOT change colour when cut. Texture fibrous, with a pleasant resistance under the knife.

The flesh is jelly-like, soft, translucent and watery.

Smell pleasant, with a nutty note (a hallmark of all Hydnum). Taste mild, sweetish in young mushrooms, possibly slightly bitter in old ones.

The smell is indistinct.