Syn.: Calodon diabolus (Banker) Snell, Calodon peckii (Banker) Snell et E. A. Dick, Hydnellum diabolus Banker, Hydnellum rhizopes Coker, Hydnum diabolus (Banker) Trotter, Hydnum peckii (Banker) Sacc.
Family: Bankeraceae Donk
Distribution: Europe and North America and maybe in Asia. In Czechia it is rare in only a few localities; used to be collected in southern and eastern Bohemia and in Moravia around Borotín. In North America found mostly in Pacific west and Rocky Mountains.
Ecology: Fruits in late summer and autumn in pine and spruce forests, usually in moss.
Description: Cap 2.5–15 cm wide, often with needles and other debris incorporated in it; when young surface felty or velvety and white to pink, later broadly convex to depressed, dark red at centre with white edges. At all ages it exudes bright ruby red drops of guttation, colour darker, more concentrated when dry, more brilliant when wet. Teeth are dense, whitish, later purple brown. Stalk 10–60 mm, rusty, uneven, short. Flesh fibrous, corky, juicy.
Use: Inedible due to burning-acrid taste and tough, corky texture.
Threat and protection: The Red list of fungi of Czechia lists this species as endangered.
These images were taken in Canada, British Columbia, Burton (September 2013).
