Hydnellum suaveolens
Hydnellum suaveolens (Scop. : Fr.) P. Karst.
Bankeraceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Cap at first obconical then flat, concave in the centre, 5–10(12) cm in diameter, whitish, pale yellow with a tinged with blue to blue lilac; surface strobile-like folded, rarely radially wrinkled, velvety; margin wavy, whitish. Hymenium composed of numerous spines. Spines 3–4 mm long, decurrent, white tinged with blue, blue lilac then brownish. Stipe central, 3–10 × 1–3 cm, blue lilac, velvety. Flesh cork-like, white with well-defined concentric areas, absent in old specimens that are bluish; with strong smell of anise. Spores oval or ellipsoid, ochre grey, verrucose. Fruit-bodies single and in groups. VII–X.
Habitats and populations. On the ground, in coniferous forests (spruce – Picea, Scots pine – Pinus sylvestris) high in the mountains.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt), Pirin Mts (Northern), Rila Mts, Rhodopi Mts (Western, Central).
General distribution. Europe, Asia, North America.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by logging, infrastructure development (tourism/recreation, transport), fires.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. Several localities are on the territory of Vitosha Nature Park, Pirin and Rila National Parks. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numbers and range; better understanding of the species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring.
References. Burzakov 1931; Hinkova 1955a, 1958b; Hinkova et al. 1979; Stoichev & Dimcheva 1988; Gyosheva et al. 2000, 2006.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
