Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom Species Information

Hericium americanum, commonly known as the bear's head tooth, is an edible mushroom in the tooth fungus group. H. americanum is found in north eastern United States and in parts of eastern Canada. It grows best in the logs of decaying trees, preferably oak trees, in deciduous forests. It is white when young, turning yellowish or brownish as it ages. The branches rise from a thick base. At the end of each branch there is a cluster of numerous, densely packed spines that hang downward like icicles. The spines can be 3 ⁄16″ to 1½″ (5 to 40 mm) long, but are mostly more than ⅜″ long. There is often also a row of spines hanging from the underside of the branch like the teeth of a comb.

Hardwood Logs, Supplemented Sawdust Blocks, Pasteurized Straw, Other Cellulose Products

Petri: Malt Extract Agar, Dextrose Agar

Spawn: Rye Berries, Millet, Oats, Corn