Urchin Earthfan
Thelephora penicillata · Family Thelephoraceae · Updated October 2026
75US records
24states
Julbusiest month
75 US records since 1822 (11 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Aug 16, 2025 (about 14 months ago) near Durham, Durham County, NC, photographed by an iNaturalist user, with the ID agreed on by other iNaturalist users (research grade). Most US records come from New York, Illinois and New Jersey, and the busiest months are Jul, Aug and Sep. (Data as of October 26, 2026; records can lag by weeks.)
⚠ Never eat a wild mushroom based on this site. We show where fungi have been recorded, nothing more. We never say any mushroom is edible or safe, and you shouldn't decide that from any website, app or photo. Many deadly mushrooms look like harmless ones. If someone may have eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Lookalike warning. Many mushrooms, including deadly ones, closely resemble each other, and the only reliable identification comes from an expert looking at the actual specimen (often with spore prints or microscopy). Never use a name, photo or record count on this page to decide what something is.
When it's recorded
Records by month, all years. Busiest: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Where it's recorded
Top counties
- Cook County, IL (6) · latest Jul 12, 2003
- Washington County, NY (5) · latest Aug 19, 1915
- Essex County, NJ (3) · latest Sep 19, 2021
- Mercer County, NJ (3) · latest Jul 24, 1916
- Gloucester County, NJ (3) · latest Jul 31, 1887
- Knox County, TN (3) · latest Jul 12, 2023
- Arlington County, VA (3) · latest Jul 15, 1937
- Tompkins County, NY (3) · latest 1920-07
- Lee County, AL (2) · latest Mar 28, 1896
- District of Columbia, DC (2) · latest Jul 14, 1905
More on this species from GBIF.
Bring along
🍄
Regional mushroom field guideSee on Amazon🍄
Folding mushroom knife with brushSee on Amazon🍄
Wicker foraging basketSee on Amazon🍄
10x hand lens / loupeSee on Amazon🍄
Spore print paperSee on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.