Have you heard of the bleeding tooth fungus which actually takes its name during a phase by bleeding around its body. It is known to grow in old-grown forest and mountain areas in regions of Eurasia and North America. The mushroom is also called Devil's tooth but has the scientific name Hydnellum Peckii and it is a part of the Bankeraceae family which is a family of fungi with about 6 genera and over 100 species.
Hydnellum Peckii is a hydnoid specie having a projection shaped like a tooth. In its young age, it goes through a difference phases and one of it is the production of a blood-like substance which is an extracellular fluid that comes out when there is too much water in the mushroom.
If the bleeding tooth is located in an area where the ground is wet, the water goes into the root and this is possible thanks to Osmosis (the lower concentration to higher concentration) leading to pressure in the mushroom by the water which is then squeezed out. It is released through the pores in the mushroom's cap called hydathodes in a process known as guttation. Hydnellum Peckii isn't the only plant that experiences guttation, plants like wheat, strawberries, barley and so on.
The fungi is among the percentage of fungi that are mycorrhizal having a symbiotic relationship with the plants that they grow on and it grows with coniferous trees and it is an ectomycorrhizal as its cells forms with the cells of the host tree. The mushrooms transforms minerals and nutrients into usable forms for the plants and in the same vain, the plant produces carbon dioxides for the fungi to help it grow and spread its mycelium.
Although a lot of plant experiences guttation, that of the bleeding tooth is red because the water mixes with a red pigment in the mushroom as it goes to the cap. Some researchers believe that the plant has evolved to having such color of liquid so as to allow spore spreading insect to come to it, some also says it is a defense mechanism to avoid it from being eaten by animals.
The mushroom only produces this liquid during its young age, and at this time, it's cap is covered with hair-like structures but ones they are matured, the hair-like velvet falls off and the bleeding stops leaving the mushroom bloodless and smooth. People use the mushroom in its bleeding state as a dye to get a beige color and its surprising why it doesn't give a red color but at least it is great as a dye.
The liquid from the mushroom is still being studied and not completely understood yet but researchers are looking into what good it can be for humans. Studies shows that the fungi contains Atromentin which is an anticoagulant working to prevent blood clot. The same Atromentin has been said to have antibacterial properties which could be used to treat bacterial pneumonia. Since they are mushrooms, eating could be a good idea right? Actually wrong. Eating them is not a good idea as it is extremely bitter.
In the case that you see this fungi, do not be scared and do not be quick to cut it off because it has a lot of benefit to humans both the ones we know about now and the ones we are still learning about with one being storing about 30% of the world's fossil fuel emission in its mycelium preventing them from escaping into the atmosphere.
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