Gomphidius glutinosus - Slimy Spike

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Gomphidius glutinosus, a gilled fungus of the order Boletales, is found beneath pine trees. The cap of this pale spike is much more slimy than other members of its genus.

This gilled bolete, with a greyish-fawn to purplish-brown cap, is very rare in Britain and Ireland but more common in Scandinavia. It is similar in dimensions and form to the Copper Spike, Chroogomphus rutilus, and its spore print is also dark brown or nearly black with a purple tinge.

Within the Boletales, the 'spikes' are more closely related to Suillus than to Boletus, which may partly explain their preference for pine trees. The Slimy Spike has been found under pines where the only other boletes fruiting at the time were Suillus grevillei.

Identification guide

Cap	5 to 12cm in diameter (exceptionally 15cm) the slimy greyish-violet caps are initially convex, becoming flat and often developing a a somewhat spiky central umbo.
	Gills Although from its spore characteristics this species is seen to be more closely related to the boletes than to the agaric fungi, it produces its spores via gills rather than pores. The distant, deeply decurrent gills are initially almost white, buff or dull grey, developing a purple-grey tinge at maturity.
Stem	1 to 2cm in diameter and usually 3 to 10cm tall, the stems are white at the apex and greyish-brown below, often flushed chrome yellow near the base; covered in slimy gluten. When young a glutinous veil connects the stem and the cap margin; when this veil breaks it leaves a visible neck just below the apex of the stem and a faint ring zone that soon blackens.
Spore print	Sepia.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	In grass or needle litter beneath conifers, most often pines.
Season	August to November.
Occurrence	Rare in southern Britain and Ireland; more common in northern Scotland and in Scandinavia.
Similar species	Chroogomphus rutilus is a much more common find, also occurring under pines; its cap is copper coloured.