So McDowell met Balfour for a foraging session. She’s been renovating her cabin so missed the day before. And what does Balfour surprise her with but teeth. No! McDowell cried. Yes! Balfour answered. Hedgehogs in August. What??

And then we started the day’s foraging, walking and talking. Beautiful chanterelles here and there: robust and dry.

And then Balfour came upon the hedgies. We both stood in awe. Even the dogs stopped to gather around. Yes there was much happiness on Mount Elphinstone in that little glen of moss. We love hedgehogs.

In 2016 we found hedgehogs on July 30. So while not the earliest ever, certainly the earliest bestest so far.

Look at this perfect beauty. White teeth, carmel cap and strong stalk. Who could ask for anything more?

Check out that stalk. Oh baby what a find.

And that’s what we found on a sunny August afternoon on Mount Elphie in Roberts Creek.

 

About the Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum repandum)

Hydnum repandum, commonly known as the hedgehog or sweet tooth mushroom, is an edible mushroom with no poisonous lookalikes. A basidiomycete fungus of the family Hydnaceae, it is the type species of the genus Hydnum. The fungus produces fruit bodies(mushrooms) that are characterized by their spore-bearing structures—in the form of spines rather than gills—which hang down from the underside of the cap. The cap is dry, colored yellow to light orange to brown, and often develops an irregular shape, especially when it has grown closely crowded with adjacent fruit bodies. The mushroom tissue is white with a pleasant odor and a spicy or bitter taste. All parts of the mushroom stain orange with age or when bruised.

A mycorrhizal fungus, Hydnum repandum is broadly distributed in Asia, Australia, North America and Europe where it fruits singly or in close groups in coniferous or deciduous woodland. This is a choice edible species, although mature specimens can develop a bitter taste. Mushrooms are collected and sold in local markets of Europe, Mexico, and Canada.

More information: Hydnum repandum: Wikipedia

Hydnellum aurantiacum aka Orange Spine Hydnellum

One of the coolest looking mushroom – okay whichever one McDowell is looking at is the coolest at the moment – but we know she loves teeth and the Orange Spine stands out in the forest with their orange spines when young and then grows into a bloom of a mushroom. The older ones are like finding a corsage on the forest floor.

McDowell wishes she would have had this for a corsage at her prom.

About Hydnellum aurantiacum

Hydnellum aurantiacum is an inedible fungus, commonly known as the orange spine or orange Hydnellum for its reddish orange or rusty red colored fruit bodies. Like other tooth fungi, it bears a layer of spines rather than gills on the underside of the cap. Due to substantial declines in sightings, this species is listed as critically endangered in the United Kingdom.

More information: Hydnellum aurantiacum, Wikipedia

ps. Wikipedia has a gorgeous photo of the H.aurantiacum when young.

Hot dry forest, middle of summer and what do we see – what the fruitcake – hedgehogs???

What’s the meaning of hedgies mid-summer? Well, you might as well ask what is the meaning of life. Just one big mystery that we’re happy to be a part of!

And we don’t even have to mention the joy on McDowell’s face to find mushrooms with teeth.

Hedgehog dreaming. Happy McDowell. Thank you Balfour.

 

About the Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum repandum)

Hydnum repandum, commonly known as the hedgehog or sweet tooth mushroom, is an edible mushroom with no poisonous lookalikes. A basidiomycete fungus of the family Hydnaceae, it is the type species of the genus Hydnum. The fungus produces fruit bodies(mushrooms) that are characterized by their spore-bearing structures—in the form of spines rather than gills—which hang down from the underside of the cap. The cap is dry, colored yellow to light orange to brown, and often develops an irregular shape, especially when it has grown closely crowded with adjacent fruit bodies. The mushroom tissue is white with a pleasant odor and a spicy or bitter taste. All parts of the mushroom stain orange with age or when bruised.

A mycorrhizal fungus, Hydnum repandum is broadly distributed in Asia, Australia, North America and Europe where it fruits singly or in close groups in coniferous or deciduous woodland. This is a choice edible species, although mature specimens can develop a bitter taste. Mushrooms are collected and sold in local markets of Europe, Mexico, and Canada.

More information: Hydnum repandum: Wikipedia

McDowell is calling it, Balfour will not. What say you? Are these Hydnellum geogenium?

As has been stated many, many times McDowell can’t resist teethy mushrooms. And when she came upon these on Mount Elphinstone, Balfour was way up the trail. So she’s on her own here and after checking books and internet McDowell is going out on a limb to say this is Hydnellum geogenium.

But she will certainly listen to reason…

 

More information – but not much: Hydnellum geogenium: Wickipedia

These examples of Sarcodon imbricatus was found in upper Wilson Creek, Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada.

Not to repeat it too often but McDowell is crazy for teeth mushrooms. These mature Hawk Wings were found while out foraging in Wilson Creek forests. It was a first for McDowell who marvelled at the huge size of these beauties. What big teeth you have Hawk Wing. McDowell has not eaten a Sarcodon imbricatus – yet.

Just another reason to forage in the forest areas of the Sunshine Coast.

 

About the HawkWing Mushroom (Sarcodon imbricatus)

Sarcodon imbricatus, commonly known as the shingled hedgehog, scaly hedgehog or a hawk wing, is a species of tooth fungus in the order Thelephorales. The mushroom itself is edible. Many sources report it has a bitter taste, but others have found it delicious and suspect that the bitter specimens may be similar related species. The mushroom has a large, brownish cap with large brown scales and may reach 30 cm (12 in) in diameter. On the underside it sports greyish brittle teeth instead of gills, and has white flesh. The spore print is brown. It is associated with spruce (Abies), appearing in autumn. It ranges throughout North America and Europe, although collections from the British Isles are now assigned to another species.

The mushrooms, or fruiting bodies, can be quite large in size. the brownish or greyish cap measures up to 30 cm in diameter and is covered with coarse darker brown scales. It is funnel-shaped. The underside bears soft, pale grey ‘teeth’ rather than gills. These are 0.5–1 cm long and brittle. The pale grey or brown stem may reach 8 centimetres high and 3 centimetres wide, and may be narrower at the base and is sometimes eccentric.

The fungus can be bitter, although this is less apparent in younger specimens. Submerging the mushrooms in boiling water will remove this. It can be pickled or dried and used as flavouring. In Bulgaria it is collected, dried and finely ground to be used as an aromatic mushroom flour. It is reported as edible but of poor quality in the United States by some sources but as deliciously edible by others.

More information: Sarcodon imbricatus: Wikipedia

These hedgehogs found in lower Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada.

McDowell is crazy for teeth mushrooms and boletes. When out foraging for teeth, Balfour made the find of the ‘biggest hedgehog ever’ in our foraging, McDowell was thrilled. She returned to Tofino and had celebratory tastings with friends.

 

Another big find late in the season, bit more wear and tear but still delish!

About the Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum repandum)

Hydnum repandum, commonly known as the hedgehog or sweet tooth mushroom, is an edible mushroom with no poisonous lookalikes. A basidiomycete fungus of the family Hydnaceae, it is the type species of the genus Hydnum. The fungus produces fruit bodies(mushrooms) that are characterized by their spore-bearing structures—in the form of spines rather than gills—which hang down from the underside of the cap. The cap is dry, colored yellow to light orange to brown, and often develops an irregular shape, especially when it has grown closely crowded with adjacent fruit bodies. The mushroom tissue is white with a pleasant odor and a spicy or bitter taste. All parts of the mushroom stain orange with age or when bruised.

A mycorrhizal fungus, Hydnum repandum is broadly distributed in Asia, Australia, North America and Europe where it fruits singly or in close groups in coniferous or deciduous woodland. This is a choice edible species, although mature specimens can develop a bitter taste. Mushrooms are collected and sold in local markets of Europe, Mexico, and Canada.

More information: Hydnum repandum: Wikipedia