White hedgehog or Terracotta hedgehog

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 cap is 2 to 6 cm across, sometimes larger, convex then flatter, often irregular, lobed or wavy at the edge and lumpy, without a deep funnel. It often sits slightly off-centre on the stem.

The surface is dry and finely felty or velvety. It's orange-red, terracotta or brownish orange, paler towards the edge, and fades with age.

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.

Instead of gills there are crowded, soft spines 2 to 5 mm long that hang like stalactites, whitish, pink or peachy, and brush off easily. They stop at the top of the stem and don't run down it.

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 2 to 6 cm tall and usually 0.5 to 1.5 cm thick, solid, whitish or pinkish white, bruising orange-brown when touched or pressed, and often pointed at the base.

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 firm, whitish with pink or salmon tones.

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.