Meet me by moonlight alone,
And then I will tell you a tale
Must be told by the moonlight alone,
In the grove at the end of the vale!
J.A. WADE: _Meet Me by Moonlight._


Hydnum repandum

Hydnum repandum grows widely in many countries and is relatively common on the ground in Australian forests. The cap and stem are pale peach in colour, and underneath instead of gills or pores are many delicate, fine, soft teeth. It is from there that the millions of microscopic white spores are continuously released. Hydnum repandum often forms rings among the moss and leaf litter of forest floors. Aside from the sweetly nutty taste, the texture of the hedgehog mushroom is "pleasantly crunchy". It has been commonly sited in the Barringtons and around Sydney.

Over the years mycologists have suspected a relationship between Hydnum repandum (sometimes named Dentinum repandum) and the Chanterelles. Hydnum repandum is easily mistaken from the top for a faded chanterelle. Hydnum repandum parallels the chanterelles microscopically, since it has stichobasidia (basidia whose cell division occurs lengthwise).

 
Hydnum repandum

- Hydnum repandum, very irregularly shaped cap. Stem 3cms, cap 5cms. Moist smooth cap delicate apricot colour. Soft spines

Hydnum repandum

- Hydnum repandum Lane Cove National Park, Lorna Pass, Great Northern Walk, Thornleigh, Sydney, New South Wales Australia,

Hydnum repandum

- Sheldon Forest, Pymble and Turramurra, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, August 6, 2006. 2006080614

Hydnum repandum

- Hydnum repandum white 2006080514

Hydnum repandum

- Hydnum repandum (detail of spines) growing in clay soil and deep leaf and twig mulch along an embankment, in large group

Hydnum repandum

- Hydnum repandum growing in clay soil and deep leaf and twig mulch along an embankment, in large groups and very common,