Browse Mushrooms
Tooth Fungi
Tooth fungi wear spines where other mushrooms wear gills. It is one of the easiest forms to know, and one of the safest to start with.
Spines, not gills
Instead of blades or pores, tooth fungi drop their spores from soft, downward-hanging spines. Run a finger under the cap and you feel teeth.
An easy, safe form
Lion's mane is the star of this group, a white cascade of spines on hardwood. The toothed, white, wood-growing look has no dangerous twin in most regions.
Read it with confidence
Few forms are as clear-cut. Still, confirm the spines, the color, and the substrate, and check any find in person before eating.
Note
Some tooth fungi are prized in the kitchen and studied for function. Interest in health effects is not medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are tooth fungi?
Mushrooms that release their spores from soft, downward-hanging spines instead of gills or pores. Lion's mane is the best-known example.
Are tooth fungi safe for beginners?
The white, spine-covered, wood-growing form of lion's mane has no dangerous twin in most regions, which makes it one of the safest wild forms to learn. Confirm any find in person.