Alpine hedgehog (Heretic whip)
- Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (of uncertain position)
- Order: Russulales (Russulovye)
- Family: Hericiaceae (Hericaceae)
- Genus: Hericium (Hericium)
- Type: Hericium flagellum (Hericium alpine)
External Description
Fruiting bodies 5-30 cm wide and 2-6 cm high, whitish or white, to light ocher when aging, formed by repeatedly dividing branches that come from a common short stalk. At the ends of the branches there are clusters of conical hanging spines up to 7 cm long. Finely warty, colorless spores, amyloid, from widely ellipsoidal to almost spherical, size 4,5-5,5 x XNUMX-XNUMX microns.
Edibility
Edible.
Habitat
It grows on fir wood, rarely on other coniferous trees in mountainous regions and foothills.
Season
End of summer – autumn.
Similar species
Easily confused with the edible coral-like hertium.