Occurring in Australia and New Zealand where the Māori call this species is pekepekekiore. Also found in America. Growing on hardwood. They are found in the Rain-forest. Distributed from Tasmania and Victoria concentrated along the East Coast to Brisbane and also records in Cairns. H. erinaceus is grown in Australia by mushroom cultivators. There are many species of Hericium found in North America, Europe and Asia all considered edible.
Photo by Martin Martini
This is one mushroom that has eluded me in the wild, but I’ve managed to get a clone to grow and have found they grow amazingly well on small-leaf Privet. It’s also one of the fungi that fruits readily on agar plates. I’m looking forward to eating some in the near future.
Lions mane fruiting on agar
mushroaming 