It’s quite clear where Hedgehog fungus (Hydnum repandum) gets its name, for instead of gills or ridges, it has spines under the cap, which not only make it intriguing to look at, but also make it one of the easiest of fungi to identify.

The hedgehog fungus is most at home within broad-leaved or coniferous woodland, especially beech woods during the months of August-November.  It is not overly common, but often locally abundant.  The flesh is pale, usually a creamy white, or sometimes more yellow.  The cap is up to 15cm across and varies in colour, often being a light pinkish-orange.  The mushroom stands up to 10cm in height.  The spines are paler than the cap and are very small, only about 5mm long, and easily damaged as they, like the whole mushroom, are quite brittle.  Some specimens will have a poor covering of spines due to this.  The stem is stout and lacks a ring.

The taste can be somewhat bitter, so a common practise is to boil them in water for a few minutes before frying them in butter and serving.