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Edibility
Choice
Lookalike Danger
2 / 5
Habitat
🌲 Coastal oak, conifer
Season
Dec – Feb
"Dried, it smells unmistakably of maple syrup. The weirdest dessert mushroom in the world."
This species is found with or partners with the following hosts. Ectomycorrhizal hosts (green border) form a root-level partnership; ericoid / arbutoid shrubs (purple border) share the same mycorrhizal networks.

Truffle / bolete / chanterelle host. Acorns edible after leaching.

Generic conifer habitat — pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, or Douglas-fir. Shown when the species is reported from conifers without a specific tree.
Small orange-brown milk cap with a distinctive MAPLE SYRUP smell that intensifies when dried. Used in desserts — ice cream, cookies, custards. Can cause a sweet-sweat body odor for a day after eating.
Coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest and California, under tanoak and Douglas fir. Winter primarily.
Min Soil Temp
50°F
Moisture Need
rain 0.5in 7d
Drought Tolerance
moderate
Elevation Range
0–13,800 ft
The maple syrup smell (stronger when dried) is diagnostic.
Coastal oak, conifer
Photograph it and log your observation on iNaturalist. The community can help confirm your ID — always get confirmation before eating.