Boletus radicans

Taxobox


image_width = 250px
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Boletales
familia = Boletaceae
genus = "Boletus"
species = "B.radicans"
binomial = "Boletus radicans"
binomial_authority = Pers.
synonyms = "Boletus albidus"
"Boletus pachypus"mycomorphbox
name=Boletus radicans
whichGills=adnexed
capShape=convex
hymeniumType=tubes
stipeCharacter=bare
sporePrintColor=olive-brown
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
howEdible=inedible

"Boletus radicans", sometimes called the whitish bolete or rooting bolete, is a large mushroom of the genus "Boletus" found in Europe under deciduous trees in summer and autumn. It has a pale buff or white cap, yellow pores and a stout stem, and stains blue when bruised or cut. It is bitter tasting and inedible.

Taxonomy

"Boletus radicans" was first described by the pioneering South African mycologist Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1801. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin "radic-" 'root'. "Boletus albidus" is a synonym, as it has been declared illegitimate.cite book | author = Phillips R | year = 2006 | title = Mushrooms |p. 278 | publisher = Pan MacMillan|location=London | isbn = 0-330-44237-6] It has been called the whitish bolete.cite book |title=The Great Encyclopedia of Mushrooms |last=Lamaison |first=Jean-Louis |coauthors=Polese, Jean-Marie |year=2005 |publisher=Könemann |isbn=3-8331-1239-5|pages=p. 33]

Description

The cap diameter ranges from 7.5–30 cm (3–10 in) across, and is usually dirty white or buff. Sometimes reminiscent of a large stone from a distance. Downy at first, but cracking at the centre later. Measuring 5–8 cm (2–3¼ in) tall by 3–4 cm (1¼–1⅔ in) wide, the stipe is usually (but not always) swollen, with a rooting base. The apex being bright lemon yellow, and fading below. There is a light straw coloured, sometimes absent reticulation at the top. The flesh is pale yellow, turning white in the cap, and pale blue in the stem when cut. The pores are lemon yellow, small and round, and bruise blue. The spore print is olivaceous walnut-brown.

Distribution and habitat

Appearing in summer and autumn, "Boletus radicans" grows with "Quercus" and "Fagus" species (Oak and Beech), and is sometimes found in fairly large numbers. Not too fussy, they seem to appear on both chalk soils, and more acidic ground in Southern England. It is present also in Europe.

Edibility

The mushroom is not edible due to its bitterness.

References

*Marcel Bon—The Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and North Western Europe.
*Courtecuisse and Duhem—Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe.