About this fungus
Shingled Hedgehog is a fungus in the Bankeraceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A large, dark brown tooth fungus with coarse overlapping scales on the cap and a dense layer of brittle grey to brown teeth underneath. The classic species is associated with spruce, which is an important part of the identification.
What to check
Turn the cap over to confirm teeth rather than pores or gills. Check the coarse raised cap scales, solid ringless stem, brown spore print and nearby tree. There is no ring or volva. Host association is essential, and microscopy may be needed within the wider shingled Sarcodon complex.
Variation
Young caps can be smoother and convex. With age they flatten or become depressed and the dark scales lift into a stronger shingled pattern. Teeth begin pale grey and darken. Older fruit bodies are often tougher and more strongly scented.
Lookalikes
Sarcodon squamosus is the main European confusion and grows with pine rather than spruce. Recent work has recognised several further shingled species in Asia and other regions. Strobilomyces species may have shaggy caps but have pores, not teeth.
Habitat and range
Ectomycorrhizal with spruce in European conifer forest, often in moss and sometimes in arcs or rings. British material previously called Sarcodon imbricatus is generally Sarcodon squamosus with pine. Similar North American and Asian collections need regional treatment.
Food safety
Edibility is uncertain or disputed.
Species to compare
Similar mushrooms to compare against: