Hydnellum auratile
Description
Hydnellum auratile is a tooth fungus in the family Bankeraceae. Fruit bodies of the fungus consist of closely grouped, funnel-shaped caps up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in diameter. The caps are initially bright orange with a white rim and have a felt-like surface. On the cap underside, the hymenium has hanging orange spines with whitish tips. These spines extend ways down the length of the short stipe. The flesh is orange in both the cap and stipe. In mass, the spores are brown. Microscopically, they measure 4–5 by 3.5–4.5 µm and have short, rounded tubercles on the surface. The widespread Hydnellum aurantiacum is a close look-alike but can be distinguished by having a white to the buff cap, dull orange to brown flesh, and white spines.
Hydnellum auratile was first described as a species of Hydnum by German mycologist Max Britzelmayr in 1891. Rudolph Arnold Maas Geesteranus transferred it to Hydnellum in 1959. The fungus is widely spread in Europe and has also been reported from the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is considered endangered in Switzerland.
Synonyms: Hydnum auratile Britzelm., Hymenomyc. Südbayern 8: 14 (1891), Hydnellum aurantiacum (Batsch: Fr.) P. Karst. em. Otto 1997.
Look-Alikes
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Distinguished by the long-lasting white color of the thorns, as well as larger spores with ornamentation of larger warts. In addition, in most cases, the fruit bodies of orange hydnellum are larger and fleshy, and the color on the section of the young fruit body in the cap is much lighter than in the stem.
Hydnellum chrysinum
Found in North America in association with pine resinosa (Pinus resinosa). The degree of closeness of the two species has yet to be determined using molecular genetic studies.
Hydnellum earlianum
Common in warmer regions, in coniferous-deciduous forests. Distinguished by the sulfur-yellow color of thorns, which are never orange-orange, like in H. auratile.
Photo sources:
Photo 1 - Author: Irene Andersson (irenea) (CC BY-SA 3.0)
