Source-reviewed species profile
Bear's-head tooth Hericium americanum
White strongly branched mass with long hanging teeth grouped in tufts. This profile covers broad field features, season and habitat for learning.
Where can I find bear's-head tooth?
On dead or dying hardwood trunks and large logs.
In Mycoverse you can select Bear's-head tooth and compare candidate search areas using a species-specific assessment of rainfall, estimated soil moisture, temperature, forest type, tree signals, canopy cover, terrain and season. Where source coverage is available, the assessment also uses historical species observations. Historical observations are historical data, not recent finds.
Images, text and app suggestions cannot confirm a species or food safety.
Field features
- White strongly branched mass with long hanging teeth grouped in tufts.
Habitat and search guidance
On dead or dying hardwood trunks and large logs.
Months
August–November
Safety status
Not presented as food. Never use the app to decide whether a mushroom is safe to eat. Not presented as a food mushroom. This profile supports learning and safer boundaries; it does not approve a finding.
Sources and review status
- MushroomExpert.Com – species account
- USDA Forest Service – North American Fungi Protochecklist
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Last reviewed: 4 October 2026.