Alpine Hericium (Hericium flagellum)
Systematics:
- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (undefined)
- Order: Russulales
- Family: Hericiaceae (Hericiaceae)
- Genus: Hericium (Gericium)
- Species: Hericium flagellum (Hericium alpine)
Synonyms:
-
Alpine Gericium;
-
Alpine Gericius;
-
Hericium alpestre.
External description Fruit bodies 5-30 cm wide and 5-30 cm high, whitish or white, to light ocher during aging, formed by repeatedly splitting branches that extend from a common short stalk. At the ends of the branches there are clusters of conical hanging spines up to 2 cm long. Finely warty colorless spores, amyloid, from broadly ellipsoidal to almost spherical, 6-7 x 4.5-5.5 microns in size.
Edible Edible.
Habitat Grows on fir wood, rarely on other conifers in mountainous areas and foothills.
Season End of summer – autumn.
Similar Species Easily confused with the edible coral Hericium.
