Albatrellopsis confluens

The cap is 3–15 centimetres (1+1⁄4–6 in) in diameter, hemispherical or irregularly circular. The surface color is cream or apricot with an orange tinge, sometimes also reddish-brown or ochre. It is flaky at the edges. The skin becomes cracked in the dry period. It usually occurs in clusters of fused fruit bodies up to 50 cm (20 in) across. The hymenophore is made of tubes up to 3 millimetres (1⁄8 in) long, decurrent on the stem, white. The pores are very small and circular. The spore print is white. The spores are broadly ovate to almost spherical, colorless, smooth and measure 4.5–5 × 3–3.5 μm. The stipe is 3 to 6 cm (1+1⁄4 to 2+1⁄4 in) long, 2 to 2.5 cm (3⁄4 to 1 in) wide, and not very distinct. It is central, eccentric or lateral. The colour is white, sometimes with an apricot, rusty tinge and spots. The flesh is cream-coloured. The odour is weak and pleasant, the taste bitter.

Similar species. …

A species widespread in Europe and North America, recorded also in Japan and on the Yorke Peninsula in Australia. Albatrellopsis confluens is a saprotrophic fungus. It occurs sporadically in coniferous and mixed forests and most often found in mountain spruce forests. It grows on the ground, singly or in crowded clumps from July to October.

The mushroom is edible when young, while old specimens are unpalatable and bitter. Due to its poor taste and rarity, picking is advised against.