THE FUNGI WITH TEETH 



433 



Hydnum rcpandum. Linn. 



The Spreading Hydnum. Edible. 



Repandum, bent backward, referring to the position of the stem and the cap. 

 The pileus is two to four inches broad, generally irregular, with the stem eccentric ; 

 fleshy, brittle, convex or nearly plane, compact, more or less repand, nearly 



Figure 362. Hydnum repandum. Two-thirds natural size. 



smooth; color varying from a pale buff the typical hue to a distinct brick-red; 

 flesh creamy-white, inclining to turn brown when bruised ; taste slightly aromatic, 

 margin often wavy. 



The spines are beneath the cap, one-quarter to one-third of an inch long, 

 irregular, entire, pointed, rather easily detached, leaving small cavities in the 

 fleshy cap, soft, creamy, becoming darker in older specimens. 



The stem is short, thick, solid in young specimens, hollow in older specimens ; 

 paler than the pileus, rather rough, often set eccentrically into the cap ; one to 

 three inches long, sometimes thickened at the base, sometimes at the top. The 

 spores are globose or a broad oval, with a small papilla at one end. 



The usual color of the cap is buff, sometimes very pale, almost white. The 

 color and smoothness of the cap have given rise to the name of "doe-skin 

 mushroom." I found this plant occasionally in the woods about Salem, Ohio. It 

 is very variable in size and color, and is quite fragile, growing alone or in clusters. 

 It is one of our best mushrooms if properly cooked, and may be dried and kept 

 for winter use. Found in woods and open places from July to October, sometimes 

 earlier. Specimens in Figure 362 were found in Poke Hollow. 



