Wine-colored Rhizopogon

Rhizopogon vinicolor

✓ Edible

Always verify identification with multiple features before consuming

Cap color: White to wine-red (bruised)
Cap size: Medium (2-6 cm diameter)
Gill color: N/A (hypogeous, no gills)
Gill attachment: N/A
Stem: N/A (subterranean; attached by mycelial cords)
Texture: Firm and spongy
Habitat: Conifer forest soil (Douglas-fir, pine); forms ectomycorrhizae
Fruiting season: August–December
Peak season: Fall

Key Identification Features

Subterranean truffle-like fruiting body
white to yellow-white exterior turning wine-red to pink when bruised or with age
interior white to olive-gray
no cap or gills

Preparation Notes

Edible but poor flavor; important ectomycorrhizal species; occasionally eaten but rarely sought for food

Regions Found

Region data not available

Look-Alikes

No documented look-alikes on record.

Safety disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. Never eat a wild mushroom based solely on online information. Always verify identification using multiple reliable field guides and, when possible, consult an experienced forager or mycologist. When in doubt, don't eat it. Spore & Scout accepts no responsibility for identification errors or adverse reactions.