Spore Sized: Copper Spike Mushroom: The Parasitic Gilled Bolete Hiding in Plain Sight

Dive into the hidden world of the Copper Spike mushroom (Chroogomphus rutilus) in this deep-dive mycology podcast! Discover how this fascinating fungi, identifiable by its reddish-coppery cap and deep smoky orange gills, is actually a master of evolutionary trickery. Despite having gills, molecular data places it firmly in the bolete order, proving it evolved gills independently from a pore-bearing ancestor.We explore its dark side as a highly species-specific parasite that hijacks the mycelial networks of root truffles and Suillus mushrooms near pine trees. Learn about the trans-Atlantic identity crisis between the European C. rutilus and the genetically distinct North American Copper Spike (Chroogomphus ochraceus), which can only be told apart microscopically by the thickness of their hymenial cystidia cell walls. Finally, we share culinary tips—like its transformation to a vibrant violet-brown when cooked, its sweet, wood blewit-like flavor, and rubbery texture perfect for curries—while issuing a crucial safety warning about its deadly lookalike, the deadly webcap (Cortinarius rubellus).