How to tell Rosy spike from Lilac bonnet

Cap 2-6 cm across, bell-shaped when young, later opening to convex with a low bump. Color pink, lilac, violet-purple, less often pale pink or grayish lilac, with radial grooves from the margin to the center. Surface smooth, shiny in wet weather.

Cap 2-6 cm across; hemispherical with an inrolled margin when young, later convex to flat with a shallow central depression. Color bright pink, coral-pink, salmon-pink: distinctive and unmatched among the spikes. In old mushrooms it fades to pale pink or ochre-pink. Surface very slimy, sticky; the skin peels off easily.

Gilled hymenophore; gills broad, distant, whitish to pale pink or lilac. Attachment notched. Spore print white.

Gilled hymenophore; gills decurrent, distant, waxy, thick. In young mushrooms whitish, later darkening to gray-black, almost black because of the dark spore print. Spore print dark brown to black. Decurrent gills plus darkening are the diagnostic features of the genus Gomphidius.

Stem 4-8 cm tall, 0.3-0.8 cm thick, cylindrical, fragile. Color pinkish lilac, matching the cap, paler lower down. Surface smooth, with fine lengthwise fibers.

Stem 3-7 cm tall, 0.8-1.5 cm thick, cylindrical, thinner and shorter than in other spikes. Color whitish to pale pink at the top, more intensely pink lower down. A ring zone from the veil in the upper part, faint. The stem base often has whitish mycelium.

Flesh thin, pink to whitish, watery. Does not change color when cut. Smell a characteristic radish smell: the key diagnostic feature of the species.

Flesh thin, whitish to pale pink, soft. When cut it turns slightly wine-pink. Smell faint, pleasantly mushroomy.

A distinct radish smell, like raw radish or horseradish. It comes out when you crush the flesh. This is the most reliable feature of the species.

Faint, pleasantly mushroomy, with no distinctive notes.