Hydnellum suaveolens (Scop. ex Fr.) Karsten syn. Hydnum suaveolens Scop. Ánizsszagú gereben. Fruit body usually solitary. Cap 4-15cm across, convex then expanded and flattened; dull white when young, then turning to deep brown from center outward, margin remaining white; surface tomentose, soft. Spines on undersurface 2-5mm long, decurrent; pallid, buff to deep brown. Stem 30-50 x 10-25mm, short, hard, woody; bright blue-violet; surface tomentose. Flesh fibrous; zoned with violet to violet-black hues, especially in stem. Odor strong, sweet or sickly. Taste mild to slightly cinnamon-like. Spores oblong, tuberculate, angular, 4.5-6 x 3-4µ. Deposit brown. Habitat under conifers, especially in mountain or northern areas, from eastern to western North America also in Europe. Season August-October. Not edible. Comment The closely related Hydnellum caeruleum (Hornem. ex Pers.) Karsten is distinguished by the lack of violet on its stem, by its spines being shaded blue at the tips, and by the young caps being pale blue.