Hericium erinaceus Pers Igel-Stachelbart Hydne hérisson, Bearded Tooth . Fruit body a solid cushion giving rise to long pendulous crowded spines; whitish at first discolouring yellowish with age, spines up to 6cm long. Gloeocystidia present as elongated undulating organs with refractive contents. Spores subglobose, minutely warted, amyloid, 4–5.5 x 5–6.5um. Habitat growing from scars on living deciduous trees, especially beech. Season late summer to autumn. Occasional. Edible. Distribution, America and Europe.