Hericium

File:Igelstachelbart, Hericium erinaceus.jpg, Lion's mane]]The genus Hericium was originally described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1794. It was mentioned by Elias Magnus Fries in the Systema Mycologicum (1822); Fries considered it to be synonymous with the tribe Merisma of the genus Hydnum. In 1825 he recognized Hericium as a distinct genus, although not in the same sense as the genus would be known later.{{cite journal |author=Miller LW. |year=1933 |title=The genera of Hydnaceae |jstor=3754097 |journal=Mycologia |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=286–302 |doi=10.2307/3754097}}

In 2004, the phylogenetic relationships of Hericium species were analysed by comparing the rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequences of H. abietis, H. alpestre, H. americanum, H. coralloides, H. erinaceum, H. erinaceus and H. laciniatum. This analysis separated H. erinaceum from the six other Hericium species, and showed that H. erinaceus, H. abietis, H. americanum, and H. coralloides are closely related each to other but genetically diverged from H. alpestre and H. laciniatum.{{cite journal |vauthors=Park HK, Ko HG, Kim SH, Park WM |year= 2004 |title=Molecular identification of Asian isolates of medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceum by phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ITS rDNA |journal=Journal of Microbial Biotechnology |volume=14 |pages=816–21}} Molecular genetic markers have been developed that allow for quick and sensitive identification of Hericium species using the polymerase chain reaction.{{cite journal |vauthors=Lu L, Li J, Cang Y |title=PCR-based sensitive detection of medicinal fungi Hericium species from ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences |journal=Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin |volume=25 |issue=8 |pages=975–80 |year=2002 |pmid=12186429 |doi= 10.1248/bpb.25.975|url=http://joi.jlc.jst.go.jp/JST.JSTAGE/bpb/25.975?from=PubMed|doi-access=free }}

The family Hericiaceae, to which Hericium belongs, belongs to the russuloid clade of basidiomycetes, making it phylogenetically related to the Auriscalpiaceae, the Bondarzewiaceae, and the Echinodontiaceae.{{cite journal |vauthors=Larsson E, Larsson KH |year=2003 |title=Phylogenetic relationships of russuloid basidiomycetes with emphasis on aphyllophoralean taxa |journal=Mycologia |volume=95 |issue=6 |pages=1035–65 |url=http://www.mycologia.org/cgi/content/full/95/6/1037 |pmid=21149013 |doi=10.2307/3761912|jstor=3761912 |url-access=subscription }}{{cite journal |vauthors=Miller SL, Larsson E, Larsson KE, Verbeken A, Nuytinck J |year=2006| title=Perspectives in the new Russulales| journal=Mycologia |volume=98 | issue=6 |pages=960–70 |doi=10.3852/mycologia.98.6.960 |pmid=17486972}}

Hericium means hedgehog in Latin.[http://www.wildmushrooms.ws/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=4b1af98b-1acc-40ed-8bb3-92cc049fbec9&groupId=10128 Spore Print] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009183240/http://www.wildmushrooms.ws/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=4b1af98b-1acc-40ed-8bb3-92cc049fbec9&groupId=10128|date=2011-10-09}}, Quarterly Newsletter of the Edmonton Mycological Society See Wiktionary entries {{linktext|Hericium}} and {{linktext|ericius}}.

The fruit bodies typically have short stalks and are attached laterally to the host tree. Mature specimens are easily identified by drooping spines which hang down; the spines may be arranged in clusters or more usually, in rows. Positive identification of immature specimens can be more difficult as they often begin as a single clump, developing their branches as they age. They have no caps and contain spiny amyloid spores and numerous gloeopleurous hyphae filled with oil droplets.{{cite web |url=http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/jan2003.html |title=Hericium americanum, the pom pon mushroom, a.k.a. Lion's mane, the bear's head tooth fungus, monkey head, or for this month, the icicle mushroom |work=Fungus of the Month for January 2003 |author=Volk T |access-date=2009-06-27}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mushroomexpert.com/hericium.html |title=The Genus Hericium (MushroomExpert.Com) |author=Kuo M |access-date=2009-06-27}} The spores are spherical to ellipsoid, smooth or covered with very fine warts.{{cite book |vauthors=Ellis JB, Ellis MB |title=Fungi without Gills (Hymenomycetes and Gasteromycetes): an Identification Handbook |publisher=Chapman and Hall |location=London, UK |year=1990 |pages=102–3 |isbn=978-0-412-36970-4}}

Hericium species are found extensively in the northern parts of the world, including North America, Europe, and Asia, often growing on old, fallen logs in dark and shaded areas of deciduous and Alpine forests.{{cite web |url=http://americanmushrooms.com/edibles2.htm |title=Best Edible Wild Mushrooms - AmericanMushrooms.com |access-date=2009-06-27}}

Hericium species are commonly found and consumed in North America and China.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} The species is readily cultivated. Hericium is used in the folk medicine of China and Japan,{{cite book |vauthors=Cannon PF, Kirk PM |title=Fungal Families of the World |publisher=CABI |location=Wallingford, UK |year=2007 |page=158 |isbn=978-0-85199-827-5}} but there is no high-quality clinical research as of 2020 to indicate that it has any medicinal or biological properties. The genus Hericium produces the phytochemicals, erinacines and hericenones, which are cyathane metabolites under basic research.{{Cite journal|author=Bing-Ji Ma |author2=Jin-Wen Shen |author3=Hai-You Yu |author4=Yuan Ruan |author5=Ting-Ting Wu |author6=Xu Zhao |title=Hericenones and erinacines: stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF) biosynthesis in Hericium erinaceus|journal=Mycology|volume=1|issue=2|year=2010|doi=10.1080/21501201003735556|pages=92–8|doi-access=free}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• Ginns, J. (1985). Hericium in North America: cultural characteristics and mating behavior. Canadian Journal of Botany 63: 1551–1563.
• Harrison, K. A. (1973). The genus Hericium in North America. Michigan Botanist 12: 177–194.

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Category:Russulales

Category:Russulales genera