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Hericium erinaceus (also called lion's mane mushroom, monkey head mushroom, bearded tooth mushroom, satyr's beard, bearded hedgehog mushroom, pom pom mushroom, or bearded tooth fungus) is an edible and medicinal mushroom belonging to the tooth fungus group. Erinaceus literally means “hedgehog” in Latin which is also reflected by the German name “Igel-Stachelbart” and some English common names such as “Bearded Hedgehog” and “Hedgehog Mushroom”. Native to North America, Europe and Asia it can be identified by its long spines (greater than 1 cm length), its appearance on hardwoods and its tendency to grow a single clump of dangling spines. These spines are basidiomes, consisting of numerous string-like, dangly, fleshy spines, which are initially white, but change their color first to yellow and subsequently to brown as they age. These fruit bodies are harvested and used for culinary or medicinal practices. Hericium erinaceus can be mistaken for other species of Hericium, which are all popular edibles that grow across the same range. In the wild, these mushrooms are common during late summer and fall on hardwoods, particularly American beech. Usually H. erinaceus is considered saprophytic, as it mostly feeds off of dead trees. However, it can be found on living trees, so that it can be considered a weak tree parasite. This could indicate an endophytic lifestyle”.

Distribution
Hericium species can be found throughout the northern hemisphere. H. erinaceus has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and its production is widespread within Asia, mostly using extensive production practices on wood logs or stumps.

Despite its higher prevalence in Asia, H. erinaceus was first described in North America, where production occurs only on a small scale, most of it being intensive indoor production with only a few small outdoor sites where log cultivation is practiced. Three Hericium species can be found in eastern North America, one being H. erinaceus, the other two H. Americanum and H.coralloides.

Although H. erinaceus is native to Europe, it has been red listed in 13 European countries due to poor germination and establishment. This specific genus fruits between August and December in the United Kingdom, and will continue to produce spores until as late as February in the following year. It is able to withstand cold temperatures and frost conditions.

Importance in the World Food System
H. erinaceus is popular with many chefs in gourmet cooking, however there is still a small demand and it is largely unknown, despite increasing consumer interest.

Due to its medicinal properties and numerous bioactive compounds, it is often used as a food supplement. A study conducted at Cornell (college of agriculture and life sciences) has shown no statistical significance in yield difference between different strains of H.erinaceus. The same study shows that yield varied significantly depending on the number of years after inoculation, with peak production during the third and fourth years. Peak production levels were similar to the commercial yield of forest cultivated shiitake mushrooms, one of the only economically viable mushrooms that can be produced in the forest. Production trials in Egypt report yields averaging at 165g/1kg media.