Hericium coralloides

Branched spiky beard ( Hericium coralloides )

The branchy spiky beard ( Hericium coralloides ) is a species of fungus in the family of spiky beard relatives. He was elected by the German Society for Mycology for fungus of the year 2006.

Features

The fruiting body is 100 to 400 millimeters tall, fleshy, brittle and colored first white, later pale ocher. At the age the meat is tough. The numerous narrow, upward branches spring from a common stalk. On their undersides are rows arranged, directed 10 to 15 millimeters long and downward spikes. The spores are broadly ellipsoid to nearly globose, smooth, hyaline, amyloid, and measure 3.5 to 4.5 × 2.5 to 3.5 microns. The fungus is monomitisch, the hyphae are amyloid and have buckles on. There are Gloeozystiden available.

Ecology and phenology

The branchy spiky beard grows on the trunks very rotten deciduous trees. He is usually found on beech, but also occurs on oak, elm, ash, poplar and birch. The species is widespread in Central Europe, but rarely anywhere. The fruiting bodies appear in the autumn.

Importance

The branchy spiky beard is edible young. Due to their rarity ( Red List G2 ) the type should be spared.

Swell