All species of Hericium are considered saprotrophs, meaning they feed on dead material. Hericium erinaceus is also a parasite, meaning it attacks and kills living trees. Lion’s mane mushrooms are found in late summer to fall on dead or dying hardwood trees, especially oak and beech.

Native to North America, Europe, and Asia, it can be identified by its long spines (longer than 1 centimetre or 1⁄2 inch), occurrence on hardwoods, and tendency to grow a single clump of dangling spines. The fruit bodies can be harvested for culinary use. H. erinaceus can be mistaken for other species of Hericium, which grow across the same range.

Hericium erinaceus is one of the more interesting-looking types of mushrooms out there. In place of the traditional mushroom cap is a large clump of teeth, which are spine-like structures a few millimeters long. The purpose of these teeth is to manufacture and release spores, the “seeds” of a mushroom that allow the fungal organism to reproduce.

Lions Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) A Mushroom Extract for Cognitive Function. scientifically termed as Hericium Erinaceus, is experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity.