Boletus erythropus

Taxobox
name = "Boletus erythropus"

---

image_width = 280px
image_caption = "B. erythropus", Germany
status = Frequent
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Boletales
familia = Boletaceae
genus = "Boletus"
species = "B. erythropus"
binomial = "Boletus erythropus"
binomial_authority = Pers. mycomorphbox
name = Boletus erythropus
whichGills = adnate
capShape = convex
hymeniumType=pores
stipeCharacter=bare
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
sporePrintColor=olive-brown
howEdible=choice
howEdible2=caution

"Boletus erythropus" is a fungus of the bolete family, found in Northern Europe, and North America. It is sometimes commonly known as 'The Dotted Stem Bolete'. Although edible when cooked, it can cause gastric upset when raw and be confused with the poisonous "Boletus satanas", which has a paler cap.

Taxonomy

Described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1796, it derives its specific name from the Greek "ερυθρος" ("red") and "πους" ("foot"),cite book | author = Liddell, Henry George and Robert Scott | year = 1980 | title = A Greek-English Lexicon (Abridged Edition) | publisher = Oxford University Press | location = United Kingdom | isbn =0-19-910207-4] referring to its red coloured stalk. Its French name, [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolet_%C3%A0_pied_rouge Bolet à pied rouge] or 'Red-foot bolete' is a literal translation.Note: This "Boletus" has been re-named fairly recently, and is now known as "Boletus luridiformis" Rostk., the binomial name "B. erythropus" has been reduced to synonymy.cite book | author = Roger Phillips | year = 2006 | title = Mushrooms | publisher = Pan MacMillan | isbn = 0-330-44237-6]

Description

"Boletus erythropus" is a large solid fungus with a bay-brown hemispherical to convex cap that can grow up to convert|20|cm|in|0|abbr=on wide, and is quite felty initially. It has small orange-red pores, that become rusty with age, and bruise blue to black. The tubes are yellowish-green, and become blue quickly on cutting. The fat, colourful, densely red-dotted yellow stem is 4–12 cm (2–5 in) high, and has no network pattern (reticulation). The flesh stains dark blue when bruised; broken, or cut. There is little smell. The spore dust is olive greenish-brown.

The similar "Boletus luridus" has a network pattern on the stem, and seems to prefer chalky soil.

"Boletus satanas" also has a stem network, and a very pale whitish cap.

Distribution and habitat

The fungus grows in deciduous or coniferous woodland, in summer and autumn, in Europe. It is often found in the same places as "Boletus edulis". It is also widely distributed in North America, and is especially common under spruce in its range from Northern California to Alaska. In Eastern North America it grows with both soft, and hardwood trees.cite book |author=David Arora |year=1986 |title=Mushrooms Demystified |publisher=Ten Speed Press |isbn=0-89815-169-4] It seems to prefer acid soils.

Toxicity

Mild tasting, "Boletus erythropus" is edible after cooking though caution is advised as it resembles other less edible blue-staining boletes and should be avoided by novice mushroom hunters.

References

*cite book | author = Phillips R | year = 1985 | title = Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain and Europe| publisher = pan Books | id = ISBN 0-330-26441-9
*