Genus Hydnum 
essential character is a solid, fleshy body with short protecting 
branches bearing numerous simple or branched teeth, which 
may vary in length from one-sixth of an inch to two inches. 
Medusa’s Head (Edible) 
Hydnum caput-meduse 
Hydnum caput-medus@ has knob-like branches, with short, 
distorted teeth above, and long, uniform ones below. At first it 
is white, but later changes toa smoky or ash colour. The change 
in colour from white to an ashy tint distinguishes it from H. 
caput-ursi, which changes to creamy white. 
Hedgehog Hydnum (Edible) 
Hydnum echinaceus 
The hedgehog hydnum is white at first, and then creamy. 
The branches are knob-like, and bear numerous straight, equal 
teeth about two inches long. 
Coral Hydnum (Edible) 
Hydnum coralloides 
Plant—Pure white, becoming creamy with age. 
Branches and Teeth—Numerous, spreading, angular or flattened. 
Terminal branches often curved upwards, terminating in a 
crowded mass of spines. Teeth, %6~-% of an inch long. 
Stem—Short, dividing into branches almost from the base. 
Flesh—Tender, white, with agreeable taste. 
Time—July to October. 
Habitat—On prostrate trees in mountainous or hilly country. 
When amere child Elias Fries was so attracted by this beau- 
tiful coral-like fungus, which grew in his native forests in Sweden, 
that he was led to take up the study of fungi, and later became 
one of the most prominent students in that branch of botany, 
and laid the foundation for the study of the Basidiomycetes. 
C2&'-ptit-mé-dii'-se Ech-i-na’-gé-tis Cér-al-loi’-dés 
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