Pine Spike

Large brown mushroom found growing in leaf litter and pine needles. Pileus (cap) is tan and slick. It is also very thick (difficult to cut through to the flesh). Flattened hairs are present and are visible at the edges. Gills honey to blush and shortly decurrent. Lamellulae are present. Stipe is honey brown and has a hairy surface. Spore print is black to dark brown.

Chroogomphus species are often called pine-spikes or spike-caps due to their shape and relationship with pine trees. They are a part of the Gomphidiaceae family and are more closely related to the agaricoid boletes (Suillineae suborder) than to the "true" gilled fungi.