Organic Lion`s Mane - Hericium erinaceus - Pure Culture

Organic Lions Mane - Hericium erinaceus - Pure Culture

Synonyms: Monkey's head, Sheep's head, Bear's head, Old Man's Beard, Hedgehog mushroom, Yamabusitake (hidden mountain mushroom), Pom-Pom blanc, hóu tóu gu (chin.: monkey's head), nam dau khi, Norugongdengi-beoseot 

The Lion's Mane mushroom gets its name from its distinctive shape, which is roundish-oval or heart-shaped, and is covered on the outside with dense, long spines. This apt name originates from China, where the mushroom is also known as the monkey's head mushroom due to its fruiting body resembling a hairy monkey's head.
In China, the hedgehog spiny beard is a popular and highly regarded edible mushroom. Its unique flavor and remarkably decorative, coral-like appearance make it a sought-after delicacy. Notably, it is one of the few mushrooms that impart a strong lobster flavor when cooked.
Despite being native to parts of Europe, including Austria, the hedgehog spiny beard is not widely recognised in Europe. In the wild, it can be found in deciduous forests across Europe, North America, and Asia, particularly in China and Japan.
Rich in potassium, zinc, iron, germanium, selenium, phosphorus, and containing all essential amino acids, as well as polysaccharides and polypeptides, the hedgehog spiny beard is a nutritious option.

Production time is 3 - 6 weeks, as this material is made fresh on demand.​
The material should be processed immediately after delivery.
It can otherwise be stored in the refrigerator at 4 °C for up to 2 weeks.
Please consider these timings when placing the order.

Suitable cultivation methods: 
wood logs, spawn bags for indoor greenhouse

Suitable Substrates: hardwood
Suitable woods:  alder, ash, aspen, beech, birch, elm, maple, oak, poplar, willow
Outdoors: this strain produces fruiting bodies in summer 

You receive living, actively growing, axenic cell culture, entirely free of other strains or contaminating organisms, for further propagation. Our pure cultures are custom-made and produced freshly after ordering -  in a class 100 clean room environment on a solid nutrient medium (MEA) based on plant-derived raw materials. The pure culture needs around 2 - 3 weeks until its mature enough for shipping. The culture is supplied in special cell culture flasks (Filling volume: 15 ml culture medium, Growth area: 25 cm², Measurements: L x W x H = 79,7 x 42,6 x 26,53 mm) with breathable, hydrophobic membrane. This special design prevents introduction of contaminants and facilitates optimum gas exchange thanks to the high air flow rate of the membrane. With this packaging, the mushroom culture can withstand longer shipping distances and time without compromising quality or germination ability.

This product is intended professional production of grain spawn to further propagate this strain of fungi. Working with pure cell cultures requires detailed mushroom cultivation skills. For beginners and hobby growers we recommend starting with grain spawn or sawdust spawn. 

We highly recommend reading this book - gain further detailed knowledge for successful mushroom cultivation: 
- Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms, Dr. Paul Stamets, ISBN: 978-1580081757 (English) 

Taxonomy: 
Division: Basidiomycetes 
Class: Agaricomycetidae
Order: Russulales 
Family: Hericiaceae 
Genus: Hericium
Species: Hericium erinaceus
Spores: white, ellipsoid, smooth to slightly rough; 5,5 - 7 x 4,5 - 5,5 µ 


Growing conditions: 
Phase 1: Mycelial growth 
Temperature: 21 - 24 °C 
Humidity: 95 - 100 % 
Duration: 10 - 14 days 
CO2: > 5.000 - 40.000 ppm 
Fresh air exchange: 0 - 1 per hour 
Light: n/a 

Phase 2: Primordia Bildung / Fruiting initiation 
Temperature: 10 - 15,6 °C 
Humidity: (85) 90 - 95 % 
Duration: 4 - 5 days 
CO2: 500 - 1.000 ppm 
Fresh air exchange: 5 - 8 per hour 
Light: 500 - 1.000 Lux 

Phase 3: Fruiting and harvest 
Temperature: 18 - 24° C 
Humidity: (85) 90 - 95 % 
Duration: 4 - 5 days 
CO2: 500 - 1.000 ppm 
Fresh air exchange: 5 - 8 per hour 
Light: 500 - 1.000 Lux 

Harvesting cycle: 2 crops, 14 days apart