Hydnellum peckii

Hydnellum pecki is one of the most interesting and easily identified spine fungi ever with its young being covered in a reddish liquid as a result of guttation. As this mushroom matures it becomes a much larger white to reddish brown concentrically zoned fruitbody which is not really distinctive from many other Hydnellum sp. But if you chew on a small piece can be identified by it’s extremely pepper taste. Commonly known as “Strawberries and Cream” it can be found growing in coniferous forest across Alberta.