Gomphidius roseus - Rosy Spike

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Gomphidius roseus, a gilled fungus of the order Boletales, is quite often found beneath pines, particularly where bilberries grow. These striking red 'spikes' are very easy to spot despite their small size.

Often when you find this species you will find alongside it Suillus bovinus, the Bovine Bolete (also referred to as the Jersey Cow Bolete), with which it forms a complex three-way mycorrhizal relationship with pine trees; however, the Rosy Spike's involvement is thought to be parasitic.

Identification guide

Cap	Often rosy red when young, the caps turn brick red as they mature. Irregular and occasionally lobed, the caps range from 3 to 5cm across and retain turned-down margins when fully expanded In wet weather, the caps are viscid, becoming smooth and shiny when dry. Beneath the cuticle, the flesh is white and firm.
Gills	Although a boletoid species, Gomphidius roseus has thick gills rather than pores. Deeply decurrent, the gills are pale grey, eventually turning mouse grey as the fruiting body ages.
Stem	The dirty-white stem has a ring zone and is often tinged pink with a yellowish zone near the base. Firm and solid, the stem flesh is white shading to dirty yellow at the base. 3 to 7cm long and typically 5 to 10mm in diameter, most of the stem is buried in grass or pine needles so that the cap appears to be almost flush with the ground.
Spore print	Black.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Under coniferous trees, and particularly pines.
Season	August to November.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Gomphidius rutilus is a purple-brown species and usually much larger gilled bolete; it also occurs mainly beneath pines.