Terracotta Hedgehog
Please note that each and every mushroom you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.
Cap
3-6 cm. Terracotta, red orange coloured lighter towards the edges. It has a fine woolly texture with unevenly lobed edges and quite often the cap sits eccentrically on the stem.
Spines
Has off white to pinkish spines that are easily brushed off. The spines do not run down the stem (decurrent) like they do on the Wood Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum).
Stem
4-7 cm long, 1.5-3 cm diameter. Off white to pinkish usually fairly thin but can be short and wide.
Flesh
Whitish and firm, can have some pink/salmon tones.
Habitat
Mainly with coniferous trees but will grow in some broadleaf woodland.
Possible Confusion
The Hedgehog Fungus (Hydnum repandum), pictured, is very similar but is usually lighter in colour and has a shorter stem with decurrent spines, (running down the stem).
Other Facts
Hydnum rufescens is a popular edible species, but it should be picked while young and free from worms and grubs. The Terracotta Hedgehog is delicious in all sorts of dishes from soups and risottos to our own favourite invention which we call ‘Hedgehogs on Toast’.
