Tag Archives: Hydnum umbilicatum

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The smaller Hedgehog, the Bellybutton Hedgehog, has begun to appear. Hydnum umbilicatum is a delicious, easy to identify mushroom. Rather than gills, or a sponge like boletes, it has tiny teeth. On our property it grows under Tan-oak trees. Rick and I were happy to find a nice bunch of them yesterday.

This morning I dry sauteed some of the hedgehogs to get the water out. Then I put them in scrambled eggs with a little cheddar cheese grated on top. Delicious!

There are lots more of these mushrooms to come. They don't seem to mind the very cold weather we've been having this past week.

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Hydnum umbilicatum is the Latin name for the Belly-button Hedgehog. It's considered a beginner's mushroom because it has no bad look-a-likes. Instead of gills, it has slender teeth. Lucky for us lovers of fungi, it doesn't bite!

 Rick and I enjoy these mushrooms with egg dishes. Delish!

 When I got close to the Hedgehog below to photograph it, I found the first Winter Chanterelles, Craterellus tubaeformis, growing next to it. Surprise!  This edible mushroom is also called Yellowfoot, Funnel Chanterelle and Winter Mushroom. These are babies and they will grow in the days to come.

Wild mushrooms are a treat from Mother Nature!

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There are two varieties of Hedgehog mushrooms that grow on our property and I love to eat both of them! The first Bellybutton Hedgehog, Hydnum umbilicatum, is up but needs some time to grow. Also spotted were several Sweet Tooth Hedgehogs, Hydnum repandum. I have never spotted Hedgehogs this early.

I thought I had a chance to photograph the green flash last night but no luck. There is a good reason people call it the "elusive green flash!" The sunset was beautiful, though, all yellows and oranges with the dark Pacific Ocean underneath.

To see a photo of the green flash posted earlier on this blog, click here: http://www.mendonomasightings.com/2011/04/28/the-green-flash-its-not-a-myth/