EDIBLE: Mild flavor when cooked, though smaller and less substantial than H. repandum. May develop slight bitterness with age. The distinctive spines/teeth on underside and depressed center make identification straightforward. Clean thoroughly as spines trap debris. Collect young specimens for best quality.
Depressed Hedgehog has a small orange to orange-brown cap (2-7 cm) with a distinctive DEPRESSED or SUNKEN CENTER (umbilicate), creating a funnel or vase shape. The underside is covered with brittle, downward-pointing SPINES or TEETH instead of gills or pores - these spines are orange to pale orange, shorter than H. repandum. The stem is central, slender, smooth, orange to pale orange, often darker at the base. The flesh is pale orange, thin, brittle, with a mild to slightly bitter taste. Spore print is white. Smaller and more orange-toned than the common Sweet Tooth.
| Family | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Genus | Hydnum |
| Edibility | Edible* |
| Toxicity | unknown |
| Season | Aug-Nov |
| Habitat | Mycorrhizal with both hardwoods and conifers. Found on the ground in mixed forests, mossy areas, under oak, beech, and conifers. Often grows scattered or in small groups. Prefers acidic soils and moss. |
| Region | Pacific Northwest, Northeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains, Europe |
Habitat: Mycorrhizal with both hardwoods and conifers. Found on the ground in mixed forests, mossy areas, under oak, beech, and conifers. Often grows scattered or in small groups. Prefers acidic soils and moss.
Region: Pacific Northwest, Northeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains, Europe
Summer through fall (August-November), with peak fruiting in fall.
Typical months: Aug-Nov
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species. The differentiator is the point — learn the one or two tells that separate them:
larger, paler, lacks depressed center
similar but darker, more reddish-brown
have ridges not true teeth/spines
Pin the patch before you leave it. Coordinates, photos, and field notes stay on your device — and the offline lookalike guide travels with you into the deep woods.
Download Mushroom TrackerDisclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Never consume a wild mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identification.