Northern Tooth
ExploreFungi
Northern Tooth
climacodon septentrionalis
The Northern Tooth is a unique fungus that looks like a cluster of white teeth! It grows on decaying wood and is fun to spot in the forest.
Habitat: It lives in moist, wooded areas, especially on decaying logs.
Appearance
The Northern Tooth is a large, shelf-like fungus that grows on hardwood trees, appearing creamy white to yellowish. Its underside is covered with distinctive, pointy, downward-pointing teeth instead of gills or pores. It often forms overlapping layers on tree trunks.
KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderPolyporalesFamilyMeruliaceaeGenusClimacodon
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Instead of gills, it has thousands of soft "teeth" that drip spores like rain!
It's sometimes called the "bear's head fungus" due to its shaggy appearance!
This fungus can weigh many pounds, making it one of the heavier brackets!
When young, it has a peppery taste, but becomes tough and woody when old.
Special abilities
Ability
Wood Wrecker
Northern Tooth can break down tough wood because of special enzymes that help recycle nutrients into the forest soil.
Ability
Spore Sprinkler
Northern Tooth has pointed teeth on its underside that help spores fall away cleanly, making sure they can spread widely.
Ability
Shelf Builder
Northern Tooth has a sturdy, tough texture that allows it to grow in large, overlapping shelves, providing shelter for tiny creatures.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 2-10 cm
- Edibility
- edible
- Cap Diameter
- 5-30 cm
- Growth Substrate
- wood
- Season
- Late summer to fall
- Spore Color
- White
Ecological connections
depends on
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Obtains nutrients from decaying maple wood.
depends on
Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Feeds on the wood of various oak species.
depends on
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
Also commonly found decomposing fallen beech trees.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Hedgehog FungusTooth Fungus
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Northern Tooth?
2-10 cm
Is Northern Tooth edible?
edible
How big is Northern Tooth?
5-30 cm
Where is Northern Tooth usually found?
It lives in moist, wooded areas, especially on decaying logs.
What does Northern Tooth grow on?
wood
When is Northern Tooth in season?
Late summer to fall
What color are Northern Tooth spores?
White
Snap Map
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