Mealy tooth  (Hydnellum ferrugineum)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

The mealy tooth fungus belongs to the stipitate hydnoid fungi group, also known as the 'tooth fungi'. Members of this group release their spores from tooth-like structures. The fruit bodies are terrestrial and have a short stalk or 'stipe', hence the name 'stipitate' (2) (5). The teeth are on the underside of the fruit body (2). The flesh of Hydnellum ferrugineum is leathery, tough and becomes corky as it dries. The cap often has an irregular shape (2), and usually displays obvious growth zones that radiate out from the centre (6). Caps may fuse into one mass with a number of stalks, and can grow around twigs, leaves or blades of grass (6). This species is very similar in appearance to Hydnellum spongiosipes, but has paler flesh with more obvious zonations (6).

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