Hericium erinaceus

This  is  an  edible  mushroom  occurring  widely  in Japan  and  China,  growing  on standing  and  decayed  broadleaf  trees such  as  oak, walnut  and beech.  It  can  also cause  heart  rot in  standing  trees.   Originally  collected  from  the wild, it  is  now extensively  grown artificially  on logs  and sawdust  mixtures making  this  mushroom available all  the year  round.  It  is  known in  the  West as  the hedgehog  or  monkey head  fungus and in  China as  Shishigashida  because the  fruiting  body  looks like the head of  a lion.