{"id":9719,"date":"2021-10-19T07:49:45","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T07:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?page_id=9719"},"modified":"2022-03-30T09:52:58","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T09:52:58","slug":"lions-mane-mushroom","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/lions-mane-mushroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Lion\u2019s Mane Mushroom: Key Facts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Contrary to what the name would suggest, lion\u2019s mane mushrooms are not actually found growing in lion\u2019s manes. Okay, you probably could have guessed that, but you may still be wondering, where do these mushrooms grow? What do they look like<\/a>? Are they edible? Keep reading to learn more about these and other lion\u2019s mane mushroom key facts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Facts About Lion\u2019s Mane Mushrooms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scientific Name:<\/strong><\/td>Hericium Erinaceus <\/em><\/td><\/tr>
Common Names:<\/strong><\/td>Lion\u2019s mane, bearded tooth, monkey head, hedgehog, pom pom, yamabushitake<\/td><\/tr>
Physical Description:<\/strong><\/td>White, bulbous mushroom with shaggy, icicle-like teeth, or spines. Each mushroom may be from a few inches up to a foot in diameter. Mushrooms grow from deciduous hardwood trees, especially those that are dead or decaying.<\/td><\/tr>
Distribution:<\/strong><\/td>Widely distributed throughout temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia.<\/td><\/tr>
Habitat:<\/strong><\/td>Forests, wooded areas, and any region with a plentiful supply of deciduous hardwood trees.<\/td><\/tr>
Edible?<\/strong><\/td>Yes<\/td><\/tr>
Flavor:<\/strong><\/td>Bland, earthy, and mildly crab-like; dehydrated and powdered mushroom tastes bitter like dark chocolate.<\/td><\/tr>
Aroma:<\/strong><\/td>Bland and indistinct; may have mild seafood undertones, but rarely has any noticeable aroma.<\/td><\/tr>
Uses:<\/strong><\/td>– Cooked<\/a> and eaten as a side dish
– Added to soups, stews, and other recipes
– Dried, powdered and taken as a nutritional supplement<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Health Benefits:<\/strong><\/td>– Anti-inflammatory–may help reduce chronic inflammation and treat various inflammatory diseases
– Nootropic–may help improve mental focus and performance as well as treat a variety of cognitive disorders
– Tissue repair–may relieve pain, prevent infection, and treat damage to a number of body tissues including skin, nerves, and digestive components.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Are Lion\u2019s Mane Mushrooms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lion\u2019s mane mushrooms are distinctive-looking mushrooms that grow from the wood of dead and decaying hardwood trees. They are usually large, white to yellowish depending on age, and are often found growing many feet above the ground on scarred tree trunks and branches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lion\u2019s mane mushrooms, as the name suggests, have a shaggy appearance similar to a lion\u2019s mane. Each of the shaggy spines can grow anywhere from half an inch to two inches long.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These mushrooms have a soft, spongy texture. They are easy to cut and tear, and they have a similar texture as white bread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Lion\u2019s Mane Mushrooms Edible?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to this study from the National Library of Medicine<\/a>, lion\u2019s mane mushrooms are not only edible but also medicinal. They have a mild, vaguely seafood-like flavor that many mushroom lovers enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can boil, saute, or fry them, dehydrate and powder them, or store them<\/a> in the freezer for later use. You can enjoy them on their own or added into a variety of savory recipes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who don\u2019t care for the flavor can still reap some impressive health benefits by taking lion\u2019s mane supplements. Lion\u2019s mane is good for treating and preventing many cognitive disorders, reducing inflammation in the body, and supporting and repairing various bodily tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where Can You Get Lion\u2019s Mane Mushrooms?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may be able to find lion\u2019s manes<\/a> growing naturally in the wild. They can be challenging to find, as you often have to look up into trees and not just down at the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find one lion\u2019s mane though, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll find others growing nearby.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have any lion\u2019s manes growing in your area, or if you don\u2019t want to go to the trouble of hunting for them, you can grow them yourself at home. There are a number of different lion\u2019s mane growing kits available, as shown in the following video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=il9Ij5Y4TSc<\/a>