Albatrellus subrufescens

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

Family: Albatrellaceae

Seen from above these slightly rufous polypores, not known to be in Britain but common in some European countries, cold be mistaken for Terracotta Hedgehogs, Hydnum rufescens. Often, however, the caps are so distorted that they look more like crumpled brown paper bags.

Some authorities believe that this edible mushroom may be mycorrhizal with conifers, and in particular spruce trees.

Identification Guide

Cap	7 to 18cm across, cream with rufous tinges; convex, soon flattening and becoming centrally depressed, distorted and lobed; margin wavy and usually remaining incurved; skin cracks when old or in very dry weather. Often several caps merge and become firmly conjoined.
Pores	White or creamy yellow; oval; tubes decurrent; 2 to 3 per mm.
Stem	Creamy white or slightly rufous; 3 to 7cm tall, 1 to 3cm dia.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	No significant.
Habitat	In woods, often under conifers.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Fairly common in central and southern Europe.
Similar species	Albatrellus ovinus has a paler cap surface, and it does not turn orange when bruised. Confident differentiation of these two very similar species requires microscopic examination of the spores.