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Lion's Mane, Bearded Tooth, Bearded Hedgehog, Yamabushitake
2 public strains
Lion's mane is a tooth fungus that forms a single, unbranched clump of long, soft, hanging white spines, usually from wounds on living hardwoods. It is a well-regarded edible, is widely cultivated, and has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine.
Edible and generally considered safe; young, white specimens are prized in cooking. Look-alikes include the branched Hericium species, which are also edible. Older, discolored specimens are less good.
Spawn rate 10–20% of wet substrate weight. Fruiting trigger: Cut a small slit or X in the bag once colonized; fruit bodies form at the opening. Fresh air: Good fresh air exchange; high CO₂ produces branched, coral-like growth. Light: Low, indirect light. Typically 1–3 flushes; later flushes are smaller. Avoid misting the fruit body directly — water on the spines causes browning. Colonization humidity is ambient RH around sealed bags and is not critical. Review: General ranges compiled from widely published cultivation practice. Pending WeMush staff review; conditions vary by strain and setup.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
