Boletus impolitus
Encyclopedia
Boletus impolitus, is a basidiomycete fungus
of the Boletaceae
family, that has tubes and pores instead of gills. These pores can be seen under the cap as tiny holes. It is edible
, but rare, and should not be picked for the table. It grows beneath Quercus (oak) trees. It is commonly called the iodine bolete, because of its smell when cut.
, meaning "matt", "unsmoothed", or "unfinished", and may be a reference to the hammered look of some specimens. It was first described by Elias Magnus Fries
, an eminent mycologist of the 19th century.
The cap
is at first hemispherical, but flattens with age, and is sometimes upturned when mature. It is pale brown,light tan, or tawny, often with a pale grey hoariness initially. It often has a 'hammered' look. The cap diameter usually ranges between 5 and 12 cm (2–5 in), but can reach up to 20 cm (8 in). The stem
is 5 to 15 cm (2–6 in) high, and is slightly fatter at the base. It is pale yellow, and often has a red flush. It has no network (reticulation), but sometimes has reddish dots. The pores and tubes are pale yellow, with the pores being small and round, and they do 'not' bruise blue. The flesh is pale yellow, and remains the same colour when cut. It is soft and has a sour smell somewhat like iodine in the base. The spore print
is olivaceous walnut-brown.
. In mainland Europe
it is found with oaks and hornbeams (Carpinus) on chalky soils, and has been found under pines (Pinus) . In Southern England
it can appear in two or three flushes from June till September, depending on weather conditions.
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
of the Boletaceae
Boletaceae
Boletaceae are a family of mushrooms, primarily characterized by developing their spores in small pores on the underside of the mushroom, instead of gills, as are found in agarics. Nearly as widely distributed as agarics, they include the Cep or King Bolete , much sought after by mushroom hunters...
family, that has tubes and pores instead of gills. These pores can be seen under the cap as tiny holes. It is edible
Edible mushroom
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruiting bodies of several species of fungi. Mushrooms belong to the macrofungi, because their fruiting structures are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand...
, but rare, and should not be picked for the table. It grows beneath Quercus (oak) trees. It is commonly called the iodine bolete, because of its smell when cut.
Taxonomy
Impolitus is LatinLatin
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...
, meaning "matt", "unsmoothed", or "unfinished", and may be a reference to the hammered look of some specimens. It was first described by Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
, an eminent mycologist of the 19th century.
Description
Pileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
is at first hemispherical, but flattens with age, and is sometimes upturned when mature. It is pale brown,light tan, or tawny, often with a pale grey hoariness initially. It often has a 'hammered' look. The cap diameter usually ranges between 5 and 12 cm (2–5 in), but can reach up to 20 cm (8 in). The stem
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
is 5 to 15 cm (2–6 in) high, and is slightly fatter at the base. It is pale yellow, and often has a red flush. It has no network (reticulation), but sometimes has reddish dots. The pores and tubes are pale yellow, with the pores being small and round, and they do 'not' bruise blue. The flesh is pale yellow, and remains the same colour when cut. It is soft and has a sour smell somewhat like iodine in the base. The spore print
Spore print
thumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
is olivaceous walnut-brown.
Similar species
- Boletus radicansBoletus radicansBoletus radicans, also known as the rooting bolete or whitish bolete, is a large, rare ectomycorrhizal fungus 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...
is very similar, and can also be found with oak. It has a whiter cap, but its pores bruise blue when damaged. It is inedible. - The bitter and inedible B. calopusBoletus calopusBoletus 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...
has a well-defined network (reticulation), and is redder on the lower part of its stemStipe (mycology)thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
.
Distribution and habitat
This species is mycorrhizal with oak (Quercus), and occasional in Southern EnglandSouthern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
. In mainland Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
it is found with oaks and hornbeams (Carpinus) on chalky soils, and has been found under pines (Pinus) . In Southern England
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
it can appear in two or three flushes from June till September, depending on weather conditions.