Species details
Black tooth
Phellodon niger
Inedible
Photo: zaca · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A dark, often nearly black tooth fungus with a spiny underside and corky flesh, mainly in mossy pine woods.
Identification features
Caps are dark grey to black, irregular and often fused. The underside has fine spines, while the flesh is grey-blue to almost coal-black and corky.
Identification checklist
Check the very dark corky flesh, spiny underside and often fused caps. Cut-flesh colour is an important supporting feature.
Detailed features
- Hymenophore
- The underside has fine spines, while the flesh is grey-blue to almost coal-black and corky.
- Flesh
- The underside has fine spines, while the flesh is grey-blue to almost coal-black and corky.
Habitat
Grows on soil in coniferous and mixed woodland, especially among moss with pine, in summer and autumn; rare.
Fruiting period
July, August, September, October, November
Ecology
- Host trees
- Pine (Pinus)
- Notes
- Grows on soil in coniferous and mixed woodland, especially among moss with pine, in summer and autumn; rare.
How to separate similar species
Phellodon tomentosus is thinner with more distinct pale margins. Related dark tooth fungi can be difficult to separate without the complete fruitbody.
Similar species
- Phellodon tomentosus
- Black false bolete (Boletopsis leucomelaena)
- Hydnellum species