Northern Tooth Fungus
Climacodon septentrionalis
Northern Tooth Fungus - Inedible Wood Parasite
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Key Features
- Shelf-like
- overlapping bracket caps
- Underside covered in crowded
- downward-pointing teeth
- Pale cream to yellowish-white coloration
- Grows directly on hardwood tree trunks
Color:
Pale cream to yellowish-white
Smell:
Unpleasant, somewhat like rotting meat when older
Growth Pattern:
Overlapping clusters
Environment:
wood
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat:
Hardwood forests, often on maple or beech trees
Distribution:
Eastern North America and parts of Europe and Asia
Seasonality:
Late summer to autumn
Economic Value
Market Demand:
None
Price Range:
N/A
Commercial Use:
None
Similar Species
Lion's Mane
Hericium erinaceus
Key Differences:
- Grows as a single, unbranched, rounded tuft
- Lacks the flattened, shelf-like bracket structure
Coral Tooth
Hericium coralloides
Key Differences:
- Features a distinctly branched structure
- Spines hang from individual branches rather than a solid shelf underside
Recommended Action
Observe and leave in place; inedible due to tough texture and bitter taste.