Slimy spike or Copper spike

Cap 4-10 cm across; hemispherical with an inrolled margin when young, later convex to flat with a shallow central depression. Color dark gray-brown, chocolate brown, almost black in wet weather; fading with age to brownish violet with darker spots. Surface very slimy, sticky; the skin peels off easily. Old mushrooms often have dark violet-black spots on the cap.

Cap 4-10 cm across; hemispherical with an inrolled margin when young, later convex with a low central bump. Color coppery reddish brown, brick-colored, with a violet-wine tint, darker and richer when young, fading to brownish ochre with age. Surface slightly slimy in wet weather, dry in dry weather; the skin peels off.

Gilled hymenophore; gills decurrent, widely spaced (distant), thick, waxy. 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.

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

Stem 4-9 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, cylindrical, thick, fleshy, narrowed at the bottom. Color whitish at the top, with a characteristic bright yellow or lemon-yellow tint at the base: the key diagnostic feature of the species. Above the ring zone (the remains of the veil) it is whitish; below, with fine grayish fibers. A ring zone from a white slimy veil in the upper part, stronger in young mushrooms, indistinct in old ones.

Stem 5-10 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, thick, fleshy, tapering to a point at the bottom (narrowed at the base). Color yellow-ochre in the upper part, coppery red lower down, matching the cap. Surface with fine lengthwise fibers. A ring zone from the veil in the upper part, faint; may disappear in old mushrooms.

Flesh fleshy, white in the cap, yellowish to yellow in the lower stem. When cut it turns slightly wine-pink in the stem. Smell faint, pleasantly mushroomy with a nutty note. Taste mild, not pronounced.

Flesh fleshy, yellow-ochre in the cap, coppery red in the lower stem. When cut it darkens to violet or wine-red: this is a normal reaction of the species, not a sign of poison. Smell faint, pleasantly mushroomy.

Faint, pleasantly mushroomy with a slight nutty or fruity note.

Faint, pleasantly mushroomy, with no distinctive notes.