Hydnellum caeruleum

Hydnellum caeruleum is another (one of my favourite) spine fungi with lovely colours when young. As it grows the cap shows various striking shades of blue but as it matures they become increasingly brown and resemble many other species of Hydnellum. One other beautiful species with blue coloration is Hydnellum suaveolens but the cap is often yellowish brown with a bluish edge and flesh entirely blue. Both occur widely in coniferous forests of Alberta.