Terracotta Hedgehog
Hydnum rufescens
Identification of Hydnoid Fungus: Terracotta Hedgehog Candidate
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All Images (3)
Key Features
- Cap is orange-brown
- dry
- and slightly velvety or fibrillose.
- Underside features dense
- brittle
- yellowish-cream teeth (spines) instead of gills.
- Teeth are strongly decurrent (running down the stem).
- Stipe is central
- short
- and concolorous or paler than the cap.
- Found growing terrestrially among leaf litter and woody debris.
Color:
Orange-brown cap, pale yellowish teeth and stipe.
Smell:
No distinctive smell
Growth Pattern:
Single
Environment:
Leaf litter
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat:
Deciduous or mixed forest floor, often near oak or beech.
Distribution:
Widespread across temperate regions of North America and Europe.
Seasonality:
Late summer through autumn
Economic Value
Market Demand:
Moderate - occasionally foraged and sold fresh.
Price Range:
$10-25/lb fresh (regional variability)
Commercial Use:
Culinary use, primarily in Europe.
Similar Species
Hedgehog Mushroom
Hydnum repandum
Key Differences:
- Cap is typically paler (buff, cream, or light tan).
- Flesh is thicker and more brittle.
- Teeth are less strongly decurrent on the stipe.
Recommended Action
Do not consume. Confirm identification with a local expert or laboratory analysis. Note spore print color and context texture.