REPORT OF STATE BOTANIST, 1897 3II 
The bear’s-head Hydnum is intermediate between the coral-like 
Hydnum, H. coralloides, on one hand and the hedgehog Hydnum, 
H. erinaccum, and the medusa’s-head Hydnum, H. Caput-medusae , 
on the other. By reason of the numerous short branches of its 
surface it is classed with the branching species of the tribe Merisma, 
but on account of its thick fleshy tuberculiform body it shows a close 
connection with the unbranched tuberculiform species. The Ameri¬ 
can fungus is not always pendulous, and in this respect it differs 
from the typical form described by Prof. Fries. 
When it grows from the upper side of a prostrate trunk it is erect 
or nearly so. When it grows from the side of a standing or of a 
prostrate trunk it may be either ascending or pendulous, or it may 
develop in both directions. The solid body is sometimes elongated 
and narrow, sometimes short and thick. Its branches are often 
scarcely more than tuberculiform projections or processes and the 
general outline of the whole fungus sometimes bears a striking re¬ 
semblance in size and shape to the heart of an ox. The spine-like 
teeth vary much in length. They are generally from 4 to 12 lines 
long, and point downward. They are longer than in the coral-like 
Hydnum and shorter than in the hedgehog Hydnum. The whole 
plant is white and beautiful when fresh and young, but with age 
and in drying it assumes creamy white, yellowish or pale alutaceous 
hues. It has sometimes been referred to Hydnum Caput-medusae by 
American mycologists but its branching character and the entire 
absence of grayish or cinereous colors forbid such a reference. 
It usually forms masses from 2 to 6 inches thick and high, but it 
sometimes greatly exceeds these dimensions. It grows upon dead 
or decaying wood of deciduous trees, specially of beech and birch 
and is mostly found in woods in summer and autumn. 
This species is not classed among the edible mushrooms by Eu¬ 
ropean mycologists and Prof. Fries says that its substance is tough 
and dry, and that he would scarcely think it edible. My own experi¬ 
ments with it lead me to think it less tender and savory than the 
coral-like Hydnum, still it is agreeable, digestible and harmless and 
.much better than some species that are generally considered very 
good. Its great mass of firm flesh, free from larvae, clean white and 
