HEDGEHOG FUNGI. 197 



size. They grow, however, much larger than this specimen. The 

 species is widely distributed, and not uncommon. It is excellent for 

 food. 



Hydnum caput-ursi Fr. Edible. This plant is also a beautiful one. 

 It is more common than the coral hydnum so far as my observation 

 goes. It is known by the popular name of ** bear's head hydnum " 

 in allusion to the groups of spines at the ends of the branches. It 



Figure 197. Hydnum erinaceus. Entirely white (natural size, often larger). 



occurs in woods with a similar habit of growing on trunks, branches, 

 etc. This plant also arises from the wood with a single stout stem, 

 which then branches successively, the ends of the branches having 

 groups of long pendant spines appearing like numerous heads. 

 Sometimes the spines on the top of the group are twisted or curled 

 in a peculiar way. Large tufts are sometimes formed, varying from 

 12-20 or more centimeters in diameter. Figure 196 is from a plant 

 collected at Ithaca. 



