Devils Tooth Fungus: Hydnellum peckii

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The Devil’s Tooth fungus is primarily found in forested, often mountainous, areas. It is most commonly encountered in North America and Europe. In the United States, the Devil’s Tooth fungus is most commonly found in the Pacific Northwest, but its range extends from Alaska to North Carolina.

This fungus forms a symbiotic relationship with coniferous trees, growing among their roots and exchanging nutrients to mutually benefit. It is known to associate with pines, western hemlock, Douglas fir, and Sitka spruce.

Its fruiting bodies can be found growing on the ground, either singly or in scattered groups.

 Young mushrooms have a pale cap with a brighter white edge and  a thick, bright red fluid seeps from it that looks like blood. This fluid often pools together to cover much of the surface of the mushroom. Not all specimens exude this red liquid, so don’t be surprised if you see young ones without it. The majority do, though. The liquid is called GUTTATION: Guttation is the process of secretion of water droplets from the pores. 

The flesh of the cap is very tough and corky. As it gets older, the funnel shape becomes flat and slightly depressed in the center. 

When young and covered with bloody droplets, this fungus is pretty easy to identify. However, with age, the cap turns grayish brown with a darkened brownish center before turning black and decaying. Instead of gills or pores, the Devil’s Tooth fungus spines on the underside of the cap, which are responsible for producing spores. These spines are less than 1/4″ long and are usually pinkish in color. They run down the stem partway. The spines are crowded and become shorter closer to the cap edge. With maturity, they turn grayish brown. 

Devil's Tooth fungus is not considered poisonous BUT its extremely bitter taste makes it unpalatable and not recommended for consumption.