Lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) This mushroom parasitizes old or wounded trees and, upon a host's death, switches to a saprotrophic mode of nutrition, consuming dead organic matter for growth. (more) lion’s mane mushroom fungus Also known as: Hericium erinaceus, bearded tooth, hedgehog mushroom, hou tou gu, monkey head mushroom, mountain monk mushroom, pom-pom mushroom, satyr’s beard, yamabushitake(Show More) Written by Karen Sottosanti Karen Sottosanti is a writer and editor who works in educational publishing. Karen Sottosanti Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 27, 2026 •History lion’s mane mushroom, (Hericium erinaceus), edible mushroom with medicinal properties that belongs to the order Russulales and the family Hericiaceae. It is widely found in the wild in the Northern Hemisphere, where the species prefers to grow on older beech and oak trees in temperate forests. Taxonomy Species of least concern This mushroom is native to North, Central, and South America, Europe, and Asia. In the Americas it is found in South Carolina and California...

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