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Bears-head is a part of the very closely related tooth fungus family of mushrooms. I have spent countless hours studying these mushrooms and it can still be hard to tell them apart. In this article, we’ll break down two different types of mushrooms: Bear’s Head Tooth Mushroom vs Lion’s Mane. Let’s get started!
Breakdown of Hericium Americanum
1) Description
Hericium Americanum, also known as the bears head tooth, is an edible mushroom in the tooth fungus group. You may hear others refer to the bear’s head tooth fungus as lion’s mane mushroom (hericium erinaceus), but the truth is they are slightly different.
Bear’s tooth fungi get their name from their physical appearance which resembles tooth-like or hair-like spores. I often compare the long spines of this unique mushroom to hanging icicles.
2) Taste & Use Cases
Lion’s mane & the bear’s head tooth fungus have a nearly identical taste. The Hericium Americanum mushroom has a seafood-like taste. You can think of the texture as very similar to crab meat.
The seafood taste is most likely due to the presence of certain amino acids that are also found in seafood.
When it comes to use cases of Hericium Americanum, this mushroom has some powerful medicinal uses. While we certainly need more research on this mushroom, the supposed benefits include:
- Cognitive benefits
- Help lower blood sugar
- Help treat cancer [1]
- Cure digestive issues
3) Where Do They Grow?
Lion’s mane & Hericium Americanum mushrooms are species of fungi that usually grow on dead wood. These mushrooms can sometimes even be found growing on live trees, but they are more commonly found on dead wood, stumps, and logs.
In order to find Hericium Americanum mushrooms, look for dead or dying trees in forests or parks. The mushrooms are typically found near the base of the tree or on fallen branches. If you are lucky, you may be able to find them growing on living trees as well.
4) Random Facts
Gills: Does not have gills. H. Americanum has long soft spines called “hyphae” that dangle from the undersides of their caps and release spores into the air. These hyphae can be up to several inches long.
Smell: Seafood-like smell.
Taste: Taste like crabmeat. If you are interested in cooking, click here to try our pan-fried recipe!
Spores: Elliptical and smooth.
Spore color: White
Edibility: Yes. We recommend cooking before consuming.
Habitat: Lives on dead or live trees in the forests of eastern North America.
Hericium Species Look-Alikes
The different species of the genus Hericium look very similar but are technically different mushrooms. Here are the two mushrooms from the hericium family most commonly mistaken for Hericium Americanum.
- Hericium Coralloides – Hericium coralloides, also known as comb tooth or coral tooth, is a type of fungi that belongs to the Hericiaceae family.
- Hericium Erinaceus – Hericium Erinaceus, also known as lion’s mane, is an edible mushroom that grows on dead hardwood logs in Asia, Europe, and North America. This fungus gets its name from its hairy appearance, which is reminiscent of the beard head tooth mushroom.
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The Bottom Line
Lion’s mane and bear’s head tooth mushroom are both members of the Hericium family, but they are very different. If you want to try a new kind of mushroom, these two are a great place to start. They have similar flavors and textures, so you won’t be disappointed no matter which one you choose. And who knows? You might just like them so much that you add them to your regular rotation of edible fungi!
FAQ – Bear’s Head Tooth Mushroom
No, the Bear’s Head is not the same as the lions mane. The most obvious difference between the two mushrooms is that the Bear’s Head has a branched fruiting body in the mature stage, while the lions mane does not. Both of these mushrooms grow on dead hardwoods and can be hard to distinguish…but they are not the same.
Yes, bear’s head tooth is an edible mushroom in the tooth genus group. This mushrooms tend to grow on dead or dying hardwood trees, and their main feature is their large, spongy cap. The caps can range in color from light brown to tan, and they have a porous surface with small spines. The flesh of the mushroom is white and has a slightly nutty flavor. When cooked, bear’s head teeth can be used in soups, stews, or sauces.
No, there is not a poisonous mushroom that looks like lion’s mane. Lion’s mane mushrooms are not toxic, and no other mushroom has been found to replicate their appearance. While there are many poisonous mushrooms out there, none of them look like lion’s mane mushrooms. So you can rest assured that if you see a mushroom that looks like lion’s mane, it is not poisonous!
The best way to identify a bears head mushroom is by their growth pattern. They grow in medium to large, compact, clusters that look like icicles on tree trunks or branches. They are found in most parts of the world and have a white spore print.
There is some evidence that suggests that bears head tooth may have potential as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. One study showed that extracts from bears head tooth inhibited the formation of amyloid plaques, which are proteins that form in the brain and are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Bears head tooth has also been shown to protect neurons from damage, and improve memory and cognitive function in mice with Alzheimer’s disease. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
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