Ridged Tooth Fungus
An ectomycorrhizal conifer associate, this toothed member of the family Bankeraceae reaches a height of about 4cm with similar breadth. The caps have a depressed to funnel-shaped cap that is reddish-brown in color centrally, and lighter cream to yellowish at the margins. It is concentrically zoned and has radial ridges and wavy margins. The surface may be pitted-fibrillose. It grows frequently in clusters that may collide and even fuse. The flesh is tough and of reddish or reddish brown color. The fungus has a mildly farinaceous odor and a bland to farinaceous taste. It is not edible. The undersurface features densely crowded and decurrent teeth of 2-3mm length and purplish brown color. The stalk is up to 2.5 cm in width and reddish brown like the cap. Though it strongly resembles H. concrescens, that species is usually associated with hardwoods in eastern North American and is much less common in the west.