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White coral tooth fungus with hanging spines on a log
Ediblebeginner-friendly group

Coral Tooth Fungus

Hericium coralloides / Comb tooth

A white, branching fungus on dead hardwood with rows of short spines hanging from every branch.

Photo: Анна Митрошенкова, CC BY
Compiled by Mushroom Forage Map field deskExpert review pendingContent checked
Identification warning

Harvest only fresh, white specimens; yellowing ones are bitter.

Season
Late summer to autumn
Habitat
Fallen logs and stumps of beech, birch, maple, and other hardwoods
Underside
Short white spines hanging along the branches
Spore evidence
White

Where it grows

Tracked records and known growing zone

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Squares: where people recorded it, brighter where more people did
Verified records
8,592
People who recorded it
5,506
Most records (northern hemisphere)
Aug–Oct
Records span
1991–2026

Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.

Observation season

When field records occur

Choose a hemisphere · All recorded years; not a current forecast.

Choose the hemisphere you want to study. Country detection is approximate and some countries span the equator.

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Lookalikes to rule out

Bear's head tooth

harmless

Hericium americanum has longer spines in clusters at branch tips.

Lion's Mane

harmless

Lion's mane is a single unbranched clump of long spines.

Coral fungi

caution

Ramaria and Clavulina branch upward from soil and have no spines.

Identification

The fruiting body is a white, delicate, branching structure. Short spines hang in rows along the branches like a comb. It grows from dead hardwood logs and stumps. It yellows with age.

Uses and ecology

Coral tooth decays dead hardwood and is protected in some countries where old forests are scarce. It has a delicate, seafood-like texture when cooked.

Memorable fact

Its many fine branches make it look like frozen coral or icicles.

Sources

Never eat a mushroom from this page alone

Confirm identity using the whole specimen, multiple reputable sources, and a qualified local expert. Identified edible species still require appropriate preparation. Cooking does not make a poisonous mushroom safe.

Safety and poison response
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