Boletus
Encyclopedia
Boletus is a genus of mushroom
, comprising over 100 species. The genus Boletus was originally broadly defined and described by Elias Magnus Fries
in 1821, essentially containing all fungi with pores. Since then, other genera have been defined gradually, such as Tylopilus
by Petter Adolf Karsten
in 1881, and old names such as Leccinum
have been resurrected or redefined.
Some mushrooms listed in older books as members of the genus have now been placed in separate genera. These include such as Boletus scaber, now Leccinum scabrum, Tylopilus felleus
, Chalciporus piperatus
and Suillus luteus
.
The name is derived from the Latin
term bōlētus 'mushroom' from the Ancient Greek
βωλιτης, ultimately from bōlos/βωλος 'lump' or 'clod'. However, the βωλιτης of Galen
is thought to have been the much prized Amanita caesarea
.
In Lithuania Boletus is called "The King Of Mushrooms".
, though many others are eaten as well, such as B. badius
, B. aereus
and others. Many species, such as B. calopus
, are bitter tasting and inedible, and others are toxic.
Several guidebooks recommend avoiding all red-pored boletes; however, both B. erythropus
and B. luridus
are edible when well-cooked. One instance of death from Boletus pulcherrimus
, though, was recorded in 1994; a couple developed gastrointestinal symptoms after eating this fungus, with the husband succumbing. The autopsy revealed an infarction
of the midgut. Boletus satanas has also long been considered to be poisonous, though it has not been responsible for any deaths. The symptoms are predominantly gastrointestinal in nature. A glycoprotein, bolesatine, has been isolated. A similar compound, bolevenine, has been isolated from the poisonous Boletus venenatus of Japan.
Muscarine
has been isolated from some red-pored species, although the amounts are pharmacologically insignificant and unlikely to cause symptoms.
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
, comprising over 100 species. The genus Boletus was originally broadly defined and described by Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
in 1821, essentially containing all fungi with pores. Since then, other genera have been defined gradually, such as Tylopilus
Tylopilus
Tylopilus is a large genus of around 75 species of mycorrhizal bolete fungi separated from Boletus. Its best known member is the bitter bolete , the only species found in Europe. More species are found in North America, such as the edible species Tylopilus chromapes and T. alboater, and the...
by Petter Adolf Karsten
Petter Adolf Karsten
Petter Adolf Karsten was a Finnish mycologist, the foremost expert on the fungi of Finland in his day, and known in consequence as the "father of Finnish mycology"....
in 1881, and old names such as Leccinum
Leccinum
Leccinum is a genus of fungi in the family Boletaceae. It was the name given first to a series of fungi within the genus Boletus, then erected as a new genus last century. Their main distinguishing feature is the small, rigid projections that give a rough texture to their stalks...
have been resurrected or redefined.
Some mushrooms listed in older books as members of the genus have now been placed in separate genera. These include such as Boletus scaber, now Leccinum scabrum, Tylopilus felleus
Tylopilus felleus
Tylopilus felleus, formerly Boletus felleus, is a fungus of the bolete family, found in Northern Europe and North America. Although it is not poisonous, it is not considered edible, due to its overwhelming bitterness.-Taxonomy:...
, Chalciporus piperatus
Chalciporus piperatus
Chalciporus piperatus, commonly known as the Peppery bolete, is a small pored mushroom of the Boletaceae family found in mixed woodland in Europe....
and Suillus luteus
Suillus luteus
Suillus luteus is a basidiomycete fungus, and the type species of the genus Suillus. It is a common fungus indigenous to coniferous forests of Eurasia and North America, and introduced to southern Australia and New Zealand...
.
The name is derived from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
term bōlētus 'mushroom' from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
βωλιτης, ultimately from bōlos/βωλος 'lump' or 'clod'. However, the βωλιτης of Galen
Galen
Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus , better known as Galen of Pergamon , was a prominent Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher...
is thought to have been the much prized Amanita caesarea
Amanita caesarea
Amanita caesarea, commonly known in English as Caesar's Mushroom, is a highly regarded edible mushroom in the genus Amanita, native to southern Europe and North Africa. It has a distinctive orange cap, yellow gills and stem. Similar orange-capped species occur in North America and India...
.
In Lithuania Boletus is called "The King Of Mushrooms".
Edibility
The genus Boletus contains many members which are edible and tasty, not the least of which is the famed Boletus edulisBoletus edulis
Boletus edulis, commonly known as penny bun, porcino or cep, is a basidiomycete fungus, and the type species of the genus Boletus. Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere across Europe, Asia, and North America, it does not occur naturally in the Southern Hemisphere, although it has been...
, though many others are eaten as well, such as B. badius
Boletus badius
Boletus badius , and commonly known as the Bay Bolete is an edible, pored mushroom from Europe and North America...
, B. aereus
Boletus aereus
Boletus aereus is a bolete, an edible mushroom frequently consumed in the Basque Country, Navarre, France and Italy. It is commonly known as ontto beltza in Basque, porcino nero in Italian, and tête de nègre in French...
and others. Many species, such as B. calopus
Boletus calopus
Boletus calopus, commonly known as the bitter beech bolete or scarlet-stemmed bolete, is a fungus of the bolete family, found in Northern Europe and North America. Appearing in coniferous and deciduous woodland in summer and autumn, the fruiting bodies are attractively coloured, with a reddish...
, are bitter tasting and inedible, and others are toxic.
Several guidebooks recommend avoiding all red-pored boletes; however, both B. erythropus
Boletus erythropus
Boletus luridiformis, formerly known as Boletus erythropus, is a wild mushroom of the bolete family, all of which have tubes and pores, instead of gills beneath their caps. It is found in Northern Europe, and North America, and is sometimes commonly known as the Dotted Stem Bolete...
and B. luridus
Boletus luridus
Boletus luridus, commonly known as the lurid bolete, is a fungus of the bolete family, found in deciduous woodlands in Europe and eastern North America. Fruiting bodies arise in summer and autumn and may be common. It is a solid bolete with an olive-brown cap, orange pores and stout ochre stem...
are edible when well-cooked. One instance of death from Boletus pulcherrimus
Boletus pulcherrimus
Boletus pulcherrimus, commonly known as Alice Eastwood's boletus or the red-pored bolete, is a species of mushroom in the Boletaceae family. It is a large bolete from Western North America with distinguishing features that include a finely netted surface on the upper third of the stem, a red to...
, though, was recorded in 1994; a couple developed gastrointestinal symptoms after eating this fungus, with the husband succumbing. The autopsy revealed an infarction
Infarction
In medicine, infarction refers to tissue death that is caused by a local lack of oxygen due to obstruction of the tissue's blood supply. The resulting lesion is referred to as an infarct.-Causes:...
of the midgut. Boletus satanas has also long been considered to be poisonous, though it has not been responsible for any deaths. The symptoms are predominantly gastrointestinal in nature. A glycoprotein, bolesatine, has been isolated. A similar compound, bolevenine, has been isolated from the poisonous Boletus venenatus of Japan.
Muscarine
Muscarine
Muscarine, L--muscarine, or muscarin is a natural product found in certain mushrooms, particularly in Inocybe and Clitocybe species, such as the deadly C. dealbata. Mushrooms in the genera Entoloma and Mycena have also been found to contain levels of muscarine which can be dangerous if ingested...
has been isolated from some red-pored species, although the amounts are pharmacologically insignificant and unlikely to cause symptoms.
See also
- Bolete eater
- List of Boletus species