Hericium coralloides (Hericium ramosum)
Typically it is found on dead fallen logs or branches of hardwoods. (Much easier to collect than the others!). Spines of Hericium coralloides hang from lateral branches and are the shortest of the hericiums, 1cm or less. The lateral branching habit of growth in Hericium coralloides is more ramified than than the branching spines of the less ‘exuberant’ Hericium americium. Both species differ from Hericium erinaceus which is unique in having much longer spines - all emanating from a central attachment expanding from the rest of the organism in the wood. All hedgehogs are in the Hericiaceae family of the Russulales.
Prepare for eating the same way as other hedgehogs. Hericiums have no toxic lookalikes.
Hericium coralloides (Hericium ramosum)