rosy woodwax

The pink to golden cap is 5–12 cm (2–4+3⁄4 in) wide, convex and with a downrolled margin that is lighter in colour. The cap surface is sticky. The pink to yellow-white gills are decurrent. The thick stipe is 4–16 cm (1+5⁄8–6+1⁄4 in) tall and 1–3 cm (3⁄8–1+1⁄8 in) wide. The spore print is white and the oval spores measure 7–10 × 5–6 micrometres. The thick flesh is pale pink or orange to white. The mushroom does not bruise red and has no distinctive odour, though it can taste like turpentine.

Hygrophorus pudorinus is found in coniferous woodlands under fir and spruce trees across western and northeastern North America; it is particularly common in Canada and the Rocky Mountains. The mushrooms appear in groups or fairy rings in late summer and autumn. They often grow in boggy places in sphagnum moss.

Despite its taste, it is edible after cooking. Its variable appearance makes identification difficult and hence raises risk of misidentification.

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