Golden brittlegill or Ochre brittlegill

Cap 2-5 cm across (small!); when young it is convex with an inrolled margin, becoming with age flat and spread out with a slightly sunken center. The cap skin is smooth, slightly slimy in wet weather, peels easily over up to 2/3 of the cap. The color is bright yellow-orange, ocher-orange, apricot, richer in the center, with paler faded patches in mature ones. The margin of mature ones has fine radial grooves.

Cap 4-10 cm across, when young convex with an inrolled margin, with age becoming flattened with a slightly depressed center. The cap skin is matte, slightly slimy in wet weather, peels back about 1/3 of the way to the center. Color: ochre-yellow, mustard-yellow, grayish-yellow, deeper toward yellow-brown at the center, paler toward the margin. Mature caps fade to pale cream. In mature specimens the margin has fine radial grooves.

Gilled hymenophore: the gills are attached or free from the stem, moderately crowded, thin, brittle. The color is distinctly bright yellow thanks to the ripe spores, a diagnostic feature. The spore print is rich yellow-ocher (one of the brightest yellows among brittlegills).

Gilled hymenophore — the gills are attached or free from the stem, moderately crowded, thin, brittle. Color: whitish at first, cream to pale ochre with age. Spore print pale cream to pale ochre.

Stem 3-6 cm tall, 0.5-1.5 cm thick, firm, cylindrical, hollow in old ones. The color is white to cream. The surface is smooth with fine lengthwise wrinkles. No ring.

Stem 4-7 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, firm, cylindrical, hollow in old specimens. Color: white to grayish-white, with faint grayish spots in old specimens. Surface smooth with lengthwise wrinkles. No ring.

Flesh thin, brittle, white; it doesn't change color when cut. The smell is pleasantly fruity, in some fruiting bodies with a distinct hint of apricot or stewed peaches, the taste mild, slightly sweet, no bitterness.

Flesh firm, brittle, white to cream. Does not change color when cut, or slowly turns grayish. Smell faint, neutral, taste mild when young, often bitterish when mature (tongue test).

Pleasantly fruity; many fruiting bodies have a distinct hint of apricot or stewed peaches. A diagnostic feature for some populations.

Faint and neutral, with nothing distinctive.