Species details

Blushing woodwax

Hygrophorus pudorinus

Conditional / expert preparation
Blushing woodwax – Hygrophorus pudorinus

Photo: Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · License

Description

A fleshy orange-pink woodwax with thick spaced gills, mainly in montane spruce woodland, with a resinous taste.

Identification features

The cap is 6–12 cm wide, fleshy, orange-pink, paler toward the margin and slimy when young. Gills are thick, spaced, initially white and later orange-pink. The stem is firm and becomes yellow-pink.

Identification checklist

Check the orange-pink fleshy cap, thick spaced gills, montane spruce habitat and characteristic fresh-spruce-shoot or resinous character.

Detailed features

Cap
The cap is 6–12 cm wide, fleshy, orange-pink, paler toward the margin and slimy when young.
Hymenophore
Gills are thick, spaced, initially white and later orange-pink.
Stem
The stem is firm and becomes yellow-pink.

Size

Cap diameter
6–12 cm

Habitat

Grows in groups mainly in montane spruce woodland on calcareous soils, in autumn.

Fruiting period

September, October, November

Ecology

Host trees
Spruce (Picea)
Soil
Calcareous
Notes
Grows in groups mainly in montane spruce woodland on calcareous soils, in autumn.

How to separate similar species

Hygrophorus poetarum is usually paler and grows mainly with beech. Habitat is an important supporting clue.

Similar species

Extended-description sources