Towards the end of August 2018 a mycological workshop took place in the small parish of Borgsjö in central Sweden. It was organised by Sundsvall Mycological Society, Jan-Olof Tedebrand, Hjördis Lundmark, Slavomir Adamcik, Per Marstad, Birgitta Wasstorp and Annemieke Verbeken. The focus was on fungi of the Russulales, which encompasses the large genera Russula and Lactarius and a few smaller ones. The event’s aim was to gather in one place mycologists, researchers, hobbyists and everyone with an interest in the study of this specific group of fungi. This created an opportunity for people scattered across the continent and elsewhere to meet, interact, share their knowledge and experience and form a community while taking part in the study of the local species and environment.
As it turns out, this place has long traditions in mycology and hosting meetings. Not surprisingly its biological diversity is very well documented. There are various species described for the first time with collections from here. European Russula experts like Henri Romagnesi, Mauro Sarnari and many other mycologists have visited Borgsjö and walked its forests.
Sweden is itself the land of numerous famous scientists and pioneers, among them Carl Linnaeus, the “father of modern taxonomy”, responsible for the system we have been using to name organisms since the 18th century. Elias Fries, who first described much of Europe’s fungi was also Swedish. If you were to look up the names of mycologists appearing in Latin binomial names, you’d discover a decent number of them came from Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. (Read about Fries and the Swedish traditions in mycology.)
Borgsjö is surrounded by taiga. The forests are dominated by spruce (Picea abies), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens) and to a lesser extent various willows (Salix), alder (Alnus incana) and aspen (Populus tremula). There these trees generally don’t exist in monoculture and are nearly always mixed, which complicates matters when identifying mycorrhizal associations between plants and fungi. The forest floor is carpeted in various species of Vaccinium, mosses and lichens. In some nearby regions you can find dwarf willows and specialised alpine flora. The relief is flat to hilly and there are numerous lakes, swamps and slow-flowing streams. The soils are poor and acidic, except for places with more basic conditions owing to factors like the transportation of rocks by ancient glaciers. And even though from the road the forest looks similar everywhere you go, every such local discrepancy affects the constitution of fungal species in that place.
Sweden is not all about boreal, coniferous forests. Southern parts correspond well to to our lowlands. Fields alternate with forest and deciduous trees like oaks, hornbeam, beech and poplars are found here. The only difference that tells you you’re not in Bulgaria, is the absence of steep, tall mountains on the horizon. Amazingly in Swedish towns you can find beeches growing in the spaces between buildings. And what knowledge I had about our fungi species and their being thermophilic and restricted to southern Europe was soon corrected. In conversation with the local enthusiasts I found out fungi as Rubroboletus satanas, other blueing boletes and various species of warmth-loving Russula and Lactarius were distributed in Sweden as well. Travelling from the south northward, it’s striking how upon leaving Stockholm the temperate deciduous and mixed forest gives way to endless taiga.
Study of the fungi was daily for an entire week. Each day guests were divided into groups, each with a mission to visit a place of special interest or reserve, account for the fungi there and collect samples. The central gathering place was Folkets hus, the local community hall, where the organisers had prepared for their guests the facilities needed for analysing the finds. While many there were busy with microscopy and identification, others were drawing illustrations or preparing herbarium samples to take home. I was busy collecting Russula spore prints. Everyone was hard at work. Identified fungi were arranged in an exhibition outside the hall and each evening there was a seminar held at the exhibition where the day’s finds were discussed. Slavomir Adamcik and Tero Taipale commented on the Russula finds, whereas Annemieke Verbeken was in charge of Lactarius. Interesting finds of unrelated fungi were also not missed. These seminars were wonderfully friendly and educational, filled with knowledge and useful practical experience. Lastly, guests had the chance to give presentations.
In the following segment I will share some fungi which caught my attention.
Russula roseipes Secr. ex Bres.
A Russula with similar coloration to Russula risigallina. Differs by the greater size and a pink hue on the stem. This varies and the stem can be either entirely reddish-pink or almost white. Odour is not significant, but you can detect an iodine smell from the stem base, as in the similar Russula turci.
Associates with pines (Pinus). In our time in Borgsjö it was found occasionally, might be a rare species. In Bulgaria reported only from the Rhodopes. Personally I had never seen this species before.
(Note: We subsequently found Russula roseipes on Vitosha mountain in 2019.)
Russula vitellina Gray
A relative of Russula risigallina. It has a pure yellow cap with a shiny, sticky surface. Inhabits cooler forests with conifers and birch, in contrast to the yellow forms of Russula risigallina. Its smell is described as resembling vinegar.
Russula decolorans (Fr.) Fr.
Russula decolorans has an orange cap and a strongly greying flesh. Taste is mild. It’s an easily identified and rather pretty species.
Grows in humid confierous forests and appeared to be one of the commonest species of Russula in its habitat, along with Russula vinosa and Russula paludosa. The Bulgarian checklist has it, but so far I haven’t been lucky to see it in the forests I know.
Russula vinosa Lindblad
Russula vinosa is a species which I got used to seeing in our spruce forests in a few isolated places. But in the Swedish forests it was absolutely everywhere, beneath spruce and pine. As far as cap colour is concerned, it’s a variable species and the above photos only present the typical appearance. Constant features like the greying stem, yellowish lamellae and mild taste are important.
I was told there are two very close species which appear in the vicinity: Russula vinososordida and Russula pubescens. They associate with birch. The first one is shown below, but I failed to photograph the second one. R. pubescens has a velvety-looking cap in young specimens and a similar wine-red colour. I will cite one curious small detail which Tero Taipale shared from his experience. R. vinosa is mild, but has a metallic (iron) aftertaste. R. pubescens is mild and has no aftertaste.
Russula vinososordida Ruots. & Vauras
This species reminds Russula vinosa in many aspects, especially the greying of the stem. The cap is predominantly reddish-brown to brown instead of wine-red. Often the cap is depressed and you see a dark spot in the centre surrounded by a pale halo. R. vinososordida flesh is very slightly hot, whereas R. vinosa is completely mild.
Grows with birch in northern Europe only.
Russula favrei M.M. Moser
Russula favrei was dominant in some forests, but completely absent in others. Russula clavipes, another species of subsection Xerampelinae, was also reported. It took everyone by surprise, but the real Russula xerampelina was nowhere to be seen.
Russula taigarum Ruots. & Vauras
Russula taigarum is a large Russula with a wine-red to brown cap, with a matt surface, creamy lamellae and a pink stem. Right off the bat the stem has a strange appearance. If you look closely, it’s actually covered in tiny pink granules. It is also club shaped. The flesh is mild.
Grows in association with spruce and is known only in Scandinavia. Russula favrei can be separated by the browning of the flesh and the green reaction with iron salts.
Tero Taipale had found several large examples on the first day of the meeting and introduced me to what I think is an exceptional species. In photos it looks like just another nondescript Russula, but the combination of characters is unique. I managed to find it myself just once, those three young fruiting bodies above.
Russula claroflava Grove
Russula claroflava, a species with a bright yellow cap. Shows a tendency to blacken when getting old, especially on damaged parts.
Grows in symbiosis with birch in wet places. Seems to be fairly popular in the region and some commented it’s number one for eating. It’s present on the Bulgarian checklist but I have yet to find it.
Elegant and majestic, Russula paludosa reigns in the northern conifer forests. The cap is shiny and coloured just like a red apple, but you can readily find examples with paler and darker coloring. Size itself is an identification marker here, because not many Russulas grow to an average height of 15-20 cm. The tall stem can be entirely white or with pale pink hues. The flesh is mild.
This species is recorded in our checklist, but I have yet to see it anywhere in our mountains.
Russula nitida (Pers.) Fr.
Russula nitida is a small Russula with a wine-red cap, pale lamellae, white or pinkish stem, mild flesh and a pale ochre spore colour. Grows with birch. Can be easily mistaken for several similar species like Russula robertii and Russula sphagnophila, which makes it hard to identify. It’s important to note that to accurately discriminate between these species you have to be precise with measuring spore colour. Ronnie Boeykens put some effort to help identify this find, in a species group I have no experience with, and I believe we succeeded.
It can also be mistaken with Russula gracillima, but that species has a hot taste. R. nitida is included in the Bulgarian checklist.
Russula azurea Bres.
This Russula I collected near St. Olaf’s spring along a pilgrim path. I didn’t see it at the exhibition throughout the week. Despite its pretty and atypical appearance, I couldn’t come up with a name for a species with such a combination of features. Felix Hampe examined my finds at the end of the day and took an interest in it. He approached me the next day and with great enthusiasm declared that it is white-spored, never mind the yellowish gills. And indeed it was. For him it was the rare Russula azurea.
Russula azurea is a small Russula. Looking closely its cap is blueish-violet, matt and dusted. The gills are pale yellowish but give a white spore deposit. The flesh is mild.
It grows in coniferous forests, especially with spruce. It’s in our checklist but I don’t think I’ve seen one before. Russula amethystina, also conifer associated, has a similarly looking cap, but the gills are ochre-yellow and the spores yellow.
(Note: Russula azurea was subsequently found in 2019)
Russula fennoscandica Ruots. & Vauras ined.
Russula fennoscandica was seen often. It was surprising to find out that it was described very recently and the name was still provisional and not formally adopted. It’s a species close to Russula queletii and bears the same fruity odour, but is smaller and has weaker colours and acridity. They both grow with spruce. Can easily be confused with Russula gracillima, but that one is associated with birch.
There is no information about distribution, but obviously it’s a northern species.
Russula gracillima Jul. Schäff.
Russula gracillima is a small Russula with many potential lookalikes. The cap is often greenish in the centre and pink-red elsewhere, but it shows variability. The gills are creamy and deposit cream spores. The stem is elongated and slightly club-shaped, coloured pink and greys somewhat. The taste is moderately hot.
Grows with birch. Probably a widely distributed species but alas, as yet not found in Bulgaria.
Russula exalbicans has the same cap tones, but the fruiting bodies are larger and thicker and the taste is only slightly hot.
Russula fennoscandica (described above) grows with spruce. When birches and spruces intermingle however, as in Borgsjö, identification becomes a challenge.
Russula nitida (described above) also grows with birch, but has a darker cap and mild flesh.
Russula intermedia P. Karst.
Russula intermedia is also known as Russula lundellii. It’s a larger Russula, red or orange-capped becoming pale to yellowish in the centre. It has pale yellow gills and a white stem, rarely flushed red. The taste is moderately hot, in comparison to Russula aurantioflammans which is burning hot. These two species belong in subsection Maculatinae, Russulas with yellow gills and hot tasting.
R. intermedia grows in association with birch. Not found in Bulgaria yet. The above collection was found and arranged carefully by Jose-Maria from Spain, but my photo doesn’t capture the arrangement well.
Russula grisescens (Bon & Gaugué) Marti
Russula grisescens (synonym Russula hydrophila) is a species in the group around Russula emetica. It has a unicoloured pale red cap, white lamellae, white spore colour and a white stem which soon greys. R. emetica has a brighter red cap and a not greying white stem. These two had always been confusing when comparing their photographs in books. But, as it turns out, in practice separating them is easy. A third species is Russula aquosa with a pink-red cap with a darker centre and lacking the greying. All of these are hot.
R. grisescens grows in wet zones in conifer forests, along streams and mires. It occurred quite abundantly in the surrounding forests and a small pile of it was ever present at the exhibition. I too found it in several spots, singly or in small groups. Not found in Bulgaria yet, but it could occur in the highest parts of our mountains. It has to be searched for in the places where R. emetica grows.
Russula consobrina (Fr.) Fr.
Russula consobrina is a weird Russula with a grey-brown cap, cream gills and greyish stem. The flesh develops grey and pink tinges after damage and tastes hot. I was expecting to get to meet this one for the first time, but as it turned out it was nowehere to be found. The moment might not have been optimal for it. Luckily I managed to photograph a single, nice specimen at the exhibition.
This species grows in spruce and birch forests and is common in the northern countries. It’s found in the Alps and in Bulgaria, according to the checklist, in Sofia region and the western Rhodopes. I have a faint memory of a find in Vitosha mountain bearing resemblance, but back then Russulas were not interesting to me and only the memory remains. I have not found it since and it’s probably rare here.
Russula aeruginea Fr.
Russula aeruginea was regularly found underneath the birches, just like in Bulgaria. A similar species, shown below, also appeared.
Russula atroglauca Einhell.
Placed side by side, the different cap tone between Russula atroglauca and Russula aeruginea is evident. R. atroglauca was known to me only from the literature and my grasp was not very clear. I was lucky being able to compare them in proximity. The cap of R. atroglauca has a blueish-green colour and a generally darker centre. It has to be said that on the internet and in some books you can find images of R. aeruginea with white balance issues, where everything is bathed in shades of blue, including the cap and in this case can cause misunderstandings.
Both species share the habitat, as far as I know. R. atroglauca is missing from our checklist. I have a feeling, however, that I have seen it and passed it for R. aeruginea previously. This is a species to be looked for next year.
(Note: Russula atroglauca was subsequently found in 2019.)
Lactarius trivialis (Fr.) Fr.
Lactarius trivialis is identified by the greyish-violet volour of young caps, the dense lamellae, white milk and strongly acrid taste. The stem has a peculiar shape where the middle section is typically widened.
Grows in spruce forests. Found fairly easily in Borgsjö. Widely distributed in northern and central Europe, but in Bulgaria not yet found.
Lactarius mammosus Fr.
Lactarius mammosus is related to Lactarius glyciosmus and like it has a pleasing coconut odour. It is separated by a larger size and darker greyish-brown cap with a felty surface.
Grows with birch and Scots pine. Not found in Bulgaria.
Lactarius helvus (Fr.) Fr.
Lactarius helvus has a matt, brownish cap, a strong, aromatic smell and releases a completely transparent latex. Grows under pine trees among mosses in wet areas.
This species is in the Bulgarian checklist, but I have not seen it previously.
Lactarius scrobiculatus (Scop.) Fr.
Lactarius scrobiculatus is a well known species in our spruce forests. Distributed all over Europe. Section Scrobiculati is named after it and includes species with white, yellow and ochre colours, more or less hairy caps and gills exuding white latex, which very quickly turns yellow.
Lactarius leonis Kytöv.
Lactarius leonis also belongs to the group of species in Section Scrobiculati. This one has paler coloration and a thinner, more delicate stature than Lactarius scrobiculatus.
Grows in spruce forests near wet areas on limestone. Occurs in northern Europe and the Alps, but it has not been found in Bulgaria. The other members of this section were all present at the exhibition: Lactarius olivinus, Lactarius tuomikoskii, Lactarius auriolla, Lactarius aquizonatus and Lactarius resimus.
Lactarius aquizonatus Kytöv.
Lactarius aquizonatus is another member of section Scrobiculati with yellowing latex. It has a pale, almost white cap with watery zonations near the margin and typical hairs hanging from the margin. In fact these hairs are not dry and erect like in many other species of Lactarius, for example Lactarius repraesentaneus below, but rather are covered in gluten and appear glued together. The photographed specimen has been handled and the hairs are not shown clearly. Fully developed specimens have pink tinged gills.
Grows with birch and probably other trees. It’s a northern species not known in Bulgaria. Lactarius resimus is very similar, but its cap margin is not as hairy and as glutinous.
Lactarius repraesentaneus Britzelm.
Lactarius repraesentaneus belongs in section Uvidi and therefore has a latex and flesh turning lilac. Easily recognised by the large size, the hairy golden yellow cap and the latex. The colour change is slow and requires patience.
Grows in humid forests with spruce. Distributed in central and northern Europe, but so far it is absent in Bulgaria.
Lactarius flavopalustris Kytöv.
Lactarius flavopalustris is another member of section Uvidi. With its bright yellow cap and stem it too exudes a latex becoming lilac. Grows with birch near wet areas. Recently described and known only from Scandinavia. The shown specimen was discovered and identified by Tero Taipale.
Several close species grow with willows: Lactarius aspideus and Lactarius flavoaspideus.
Lactarius badiosanguineus Kühner & Romagn.
Lactarius badiosanguineus is just as common under spruce in Sweden as it is in Bulgarian forests.
Lactarius fennoscandicus Verbeken & Vesterh.
Lactarius fennoscandicus is a milkcap from Section Dapetes and probably most resembles Lactarius deterrimus, which is more widespread and found all over Europe. L. fennoscandicus has darker, more drab colours, especially in the cap centre, whereas L. deterrimus is brighter orange (fresh carrot colour) with greenish parts. The youngest caps of L. fennoscandicus are easiest to recognise.
Both species grow in association with spruce and in Borgsjö grew together in many places. It appears L. fennoscandicus has a more limited distribution and has not been seen further south than Scandinavia.
Lactarius scoticus Berk. & Broome
Lactarius scoticus is a small species with a nearly white, hairy cap. Grows with birch next to boggy areas. I found one fruiting body in a place neighbouring the Lactarius holopus shown below, but I failed to photograph it. The examples in the photo above have been handled and the hairs along the margin are not evident.
It has thus far not been found in Bulgaria.
The stunning Amanita regalis and Amanita muscaria have differing coloration, but otherwise nearly identical characteristics. A. regalis always has a brown cap with yellowish remnants of universal veil. It’s possible for older and pallescent examples of the two species to be mistaken, but in fresh ones there is no doubt. This species associates with spruce only, in comparison to A. muscaria which can be found with various trees. Nevertheless both occur in A. regalis‘s habitat.
While it is fairly commonplace in central and northern Europe, A. regalis has not been discovered in Bulgaria. It has, however, been found in neighbouring Romania.
Amanita flavescens (E.-J. Gilbert) Contu
Amanita flavescens (synonym Amanita contui) is a poorly known ringless Amanita with an orange-yellow cap, a white, almost smooth stem and a white volva. It resembles Amanita crocea var. subnudipes and perhaps many confuse the two. Reliable information on this species is scanty, but I’ve read that the inner surface of the volva is white. In A. crocea and A. crocea var. subnudipes that inner surface is always coloured like the cap.
A. flavescens is known to grow in northern Europe with birches. As is the case with many ringless Amanita species, this one needs further study.
Leccinum variicolor Watling
Lactarius variicolor is a Leccinum species associated with birch. It’s identified by the characteristically marbled cap. The flesh becomes pink after slicing and the stem base bears a blue-green spot. The species is distributed in central and northern Europe. There are accounts it occurs in Bulgaria too, but by all means it must be rare.
Leccinum melaneum (Smotl.) Pilát & Dermek
Lactarius melaneum is another species associated with birch. Fruiting bodies are typically thick and fleshy, with a dark grey-brown cap and black granules arranged densely all over the stem. The flesh turns pink and the blue-green spot is absent.
The species is not included in our checklist.
Leccinum versipelle (Fr. & Hök) Snell
Leccinum versipelle is easily recognised by the orange cap and black stem granules. On slicing the flesh darkens, first greyish-violet and almost black soon thereafter. There’s usually a blue-green spot in the stem base.
It grows with birch. It is found in Bulgaria, but I assume it might be much rarer than in northern countries.
Leccinum albostipitatum den Bakker & Noordel.
Leccinum albostipitatum, as in Bulgaria, is the sign you are in the presence of Populus tremula.
Leccinum holopus (Rostk.) Watling
Leccinum holopus is another Leccinum associated with birch, but requires only the wettest of conditions. The photographed examples were found on a moss covered decaying trunk lying in the water of a bog.
Other useful characters to identify this species include the tendency of the cap to develop green tinges and the colourless granules covering the stem. The stem base normally has a green spot.
This species is found in northern Europe and is unknown in Bulgaria.
Mycena oregonensis A.H. Smith
Mycena oregonensis reminds one of Mycena acicula but grows in humid conifer forests among mosses and ferns and the tiny cap has a papilla. It’s a rare one, never been found in Bulgaria or in fact most European countries. I wouldn’t have expected it to be a European species judging by the epithet. Thanks to Bengt Larsson for identifying it on the spot. He was familiar with nearly every species we encountered in the search areas he guided.
Mycena laevigata (Lasch) Gillet
Mycena laevigata grows as beautiful clusters on rotted out trunks covered with vegetation. Sometimes it grows on soil too. Another species identified by Bengt. It’s apparently also recorded in Bulgaria.
Mycena floridula sensu Kühner
Mycena floridula is a species close to Mycena flavoalba and could possibly be just a colour variant. Identified by the pink cap, which regularly sports additional yellowish coloration. Mycena adonis is different and has a pink-red cap.
Mycena haematopus (Pers.) P. Kumm.
Mycena haematopus with its bleeding flesh grows on rotting wood of various trees. This species is distributed all around Europe.
Cortinarius alboviolaceus (Pers.) Fr.
The webcap Cortinarius alboviolaceus is recognised by the campanulate cap and the pale violet colour of the entire fruiting body. It probably represents a species complex. In north Europe it grows with birch, beech and other broadleaf trees and is comparatively common. But it’s absent from our checklist.
Cortinarius pholideus (Fr.) Fr.
Cortinarius pholideus is another webcap of the northern forests. It grows in wet areas and associates with birch. Easy to identify but not known in our country.
Cortinarius collinitus (Sowerby) Gray
Cortinarius collinitus is fairly close to Cortinarius integerrimus, but differs in having a warmer orange-brown cap colour. Commonly found in humid conifer forests. Found also in Bulgaria.
Cortinarius armillatus (Fr.) Fr.
Cortinarius armillatus is another webcap not yet recorded in Bulgaria. The orange-red girdles on the stem make it easy to identify. It also associates with birch and appears so prolific that I doubt it’s actually missing.
Rozites caperatus (Pers.) P. Karst.
Rozites caperatus was abundant with massive and beautiful examples.
Hygrophorus erubescens (Fr.) Fr.
Hygrophorus erubescens also occurred prolifically and was collected by several people from different places at the same time. One of the participants showed me a find that resembled H. erubescens but carried a ring. It was Hygrophorus purpurascens, but it appeared somewhat different from the Bulgarian H. purpurascens currently shown on the website. Unfortunately I did not photograph it, but a photo belonging to Leif and Anita Stridvall represents precisely what was seen.
In the exhibition I was introduced to an enigmatic species in the genus Hygrophorus – Hygrophorus exiguus. It’s a tiny species with pinkish lamellae and a smell similar to Hygrophorus agathosmus. What’s most peculiar is that it is almost always found in the presence of Tricholoma inamoenum, which hints that there could be some sort of relationship between the two. H. exiguus is known from a small number of localities in Europe, but T. inamoenum is quite widely distributed, including in Bulgaria. I missed snapping a photo of it as it was exhibited for just a few minutes before going missing. You can read a publication regarding this species on ResearchGate. (Hygrophorus exiguus, a new species in subgenus Colorati section Olivaceoumbrini, subsection Tephroleuci, E. Larsson, M. Carbone, E. Campo, Karstenia, 2014)
Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus (Fr.) Fr.
Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus has a liberally glutinous coating on both cap and stem, which gives it its resemblance to Hygrophorus persoonii and Hygrophorus latitabundus. It’s quite smaller and grows in a different habitat – wet spruce forest. It is included in the Bulgarian checklist (central Rhodopes), but I have not seen it yet.
One other rare species of Hygrophorus made its presence known and in spectacular quantity underneath the spruces – Hygrophorus camarophyllus. It looks similar to Hygrophorus atramentosus, but has a brownish cap. It could even be mistaken for Gomphidius glutinosus by inexperienced collectors. This species has been found in Bulgaria. I did not manage to snap a photo, but you can see another example of the entity on the website stridvall.se.
Hygrophorus karstenii Sacc. & Cub.
Hygrophorus karstenii is a white Hygrophorus with characteristic ochre-pink gills. Grows in spruce forests in northern Europe. It should not be msitaken for Hygrophorus piceae with its pale pink gills inhabiting the same habitat. Hygrophorus hedrychii has similar pinkish gills and grows with birch.
Out of all species mentioned only H. piceae is recorded in our checklist.
Clavaria sphagnicola Boud.
Clavaria sphagnicola is a very rare clavarioid fungus inhabiting Sphagnum bogs. Matthias Luderitz was investigating Clavarias, Hygrocybes and other small grassland fungi and brought it to everyone’s attention.
Albatrellus citrinus Ryman
Albatrellus citrinus was found during the workshop. My find above was from a spruce and birch forest and I believe it represents that species. Shown is the reaction with potassium hydroxide on the cap, stem and flesh.
The caps of A. citrinus become yellowish with development. It’s thought that the species associates with spruce in limestone regions. It was described from Sweden, but could possibly be found in central Europe. Albatrellus ovinus also grows with spruce, but its cap is greyish despite also having yellowish-green tinges. Albatrellus subrubescens is said to grow with pines.
I have not had the chance to compare all three Albatrellus species at the same time. I think they are not very well understood.
Xanthoporus syringae (Parmasto) Audet
Xanthoporus syringae (Albatrellus syringae is an old name) is easily identified on account of the yellow, zoned, irregularly-shaped, clustered caps. The pores underneath are yellow and the stems are bunched together. It’s believed X. syringae is a saprotroph, whereas Albatrellus are mycorrhizal fungi.
It grows in coniferous forests and appears to tolerate human disturbance. It develops on soil near dead wood and stumps. Outside Scandinavia it has also been recorded in the Alps. Not yet found in Bulgaria.
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