Conservation Status: Not of concern

When young, Hydnellum peckii is easily identified. At that stage, the fruitbodies are whitish lumps, usually adorned with drops of bright red liquid, which makes them look like cranberry scones. In age, they become much expanded, assume an overall reddish brown color, and are much less distinctive. However, even then they can be identified by their sharp peppery taste. H. diabolus of eastern North America is very similar, but differs in having a pleasant odor when young and a distinctly rough-hairy, not matted-wooly, cap surface. Some mycologists consider it synonymous with H. peckii. The European species, H. ferrugineum is also very similar, but has darker flesh and a mild taste.