Sarcodon

Sarcodon is a genus of fungi in the family Bankeraceae, which is part of the order Thelephorales, known for its almost universal ectomycorrhizal ecology. The genus owes its name to the presence of teeth-like spines on the hymenophore, from ancient Greek; sarco = flesh and odon = tooth. For this reason they are commonly called "tooth fungi", or "Hydnoid fungi".

Description
Sarcodon species have yellow to brown tinted basidiospores, with lengths in the range of 7.4-9 μm. The basidiomata are often soft and fleshy.

Species
, Index Fungorum listed 49 valid species of Sarcodon. However, in 2019 Larsson et al. transferred 12 species into the genus Hydnellum.


 * Sarcodon aglaosoma
 * Sarcodon atroviridis
 * Sarcodon bubalinus
 * Sarcodon caliginosus
 * Sarcodon calvatus
 * Sarcodon carbonarius
 * Sarcodon catalaunicus
 * Sarcodon conchyliatus
 * Sarcodon cyanellus
 * Sarcodon cyrneus
 * Sarcodon dissimulans
 * Sarcodon excentricus
 * Sarcodon harrisonii
 * Sarcodon humilis
 * Sarcodon ianthinus
 * Sarcodon illudens
 * Sarcodon imbricatus
 * Sarcodon lanuginosus
 * Sarcodon leucopus
 * Sarcodon pakaraimensis
 * Sarcodon portoricensis
 * Sarcodon praestans
 * Sarcodon procerus
 * Sarcodon quercinofibulatus
 * Sarcodon quercophilus
 * Sarcodon quietus
 * Sarcodon regalis
 * Sarcodon rimosus
 * Sarcodon roseolus
 * Sarcodon rutilus
 * Sarcodon scabripes
 * Sarcodon squamosus
 * Sarcodon stereosarcinon
 * Sarcodon subfelleus
 * Sarcodon thwaitesii
 * Sarcodon umbilicatus
 * Sarcodon ussuriensis
 * Sarcodon ustalis
 * Sarcodon wrightii

Human uses
Several species within the Sarcodon genus, including S. imbricatus (see figure), are edible. The fungus can be bitter, but that is less apparent in younger specimens. In China, it is a popular edible mushroom and it is used to reduce cholesterol, relax the muscles, and improve blood circulation. Isolates from the genus, called scabronines, may increase nerve growth factor synthesis in vitro.