Xerocomus chrysenteron
Encyclopedia
Boletus chrysenteron (synonymous with Xerocomus chrysenteron) is a small, edible, wild mushroom in the Boletaceae
family. These mushrooms have tubes and pores instead of gills beneath their caps
. It is commonly known as the Red Cracking Bolete.
. Two years later in 1791 it was given the specific epithet chrysenteron by the same author. Almost one hundred years later in 1888 Lucien Quelet
placed it in the new Xerocomus genus, and retained the chrysenteron epithet. This binomial was generally accepted for almost another hundred years, until 1985 when Marcel Bon
decided to resurrect the former specific epithet communis, which resulted in the binomial Xerocomus communis. It now resides back in the Boletus genus, and sports its 1791 binomial, and authority once again, and is currently known as Boletus chrysenteron Bull.
caps which might easily be mistaken for Bay Boletes B. badius
. When fully expanded, caps
are 4 to 10 cm in diameter with very little substance and thin flesh that turns a blue color when slightly cut or bruised. Caps mature to convex and plane in old age. Cracks in the mature cap reveal a thin layer of red flesh below the skin.
The 10 to 15 mm diameter stems
have no ring, are bright yellow and the lower part is covered in coral-red fibrils and has a constant elliptical to fusiform diameter throughout its length of 4 to 8 cm tall. The cream-colored stem flesh turns blue when cut.
B. chrysenteron has large, yellow, angular pores, and produces an olive brown spore print
.
are hardly distinguishable from B. chrysenteron without the aid of microscopic characters. B. porosporus
is also similar to this species, but it is easily separated on account of the whitish under layer and truncate (chopped off) spores. Also this species is easily confused with B. declivitatum.
on well drained soils. It is frequent in parts of the northern temperate zones. This species may not be as common as once thought, having been often mistaken for the recently recognised B.cisalpinus Simonini, Ladurner & Peintner.
but not desirable due to bland flavor and soft texture.
Young fungi are palatable and suitable for drying, but they become slimy when cooked; mature specimens are rather tasteless and decay quickly.
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. These mushrooms have tubes and pores instead of gills beneath their caps
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...
. It is commonly known as the Red Cracking Bolete.
Taxonomy
This mushroom was first described and named as Boletus communis in 1789 by the eminent French botanist Jean Baptiste Francois Pierre BulliardJean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard
Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard was a French physician and botanist....
. Two years later in 1791 it was given the specific epithet chrysenteron by the same author. Almost one hundred years later in 1888 Lucien Quelet
Lucien Quélet
thumb|Lucien QuéletLucien Quélet was a French mycologist and naturalist who discovered several species and was the founder of the Société mycologique de France, a society devoted to mycological studies....
placed it in the new Xerocomus genus, and retained the chrysenteron epithet. This binomial was generally accepted for almost another hundred years, until 1985 when Marcel Bon
Marcel Bon
Marcel Bon is one of France’s best known field mycologists. He was born in Picardy, in 1925 and came to mycology through general botany, and pharmacology...
decided to resurrect the former specific epithet communis, which resulted in the binomial Xerocomus communis. It now resides back in the Boletus genus, and sports its 1791 binomial, and authority once again, and is currently known as Boletus chrysenteron Bull.
Description
Young specimens of B. chrysenteron often have a dark, dry surface, and tomentoseTomentose
Tomentose is a term used to describe plant hairs that are flattened and matted, forming a woolly coating known as tomentum. Often the hairs are silver or gray-colored...
caps which might easily be mistaken for Bay Boletes B. badius
Boletus badius
Boletus badius , and commonly known as the Bay Bolete is an edible, pored mushroom from Europe and North America...
. When fully expanded, caps
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...
are 4 to 10 cm in diameter with very little substance and thin flesh that turns a blue color when slightly cut or bruised. Caps mature to convex and plane in old age. Cracks in the mature cap reveal a thin layer of red flesh below the skin.
The 10 to 15 mm diameter stems
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...
have no ring, are bright yellow and the lower part is covered in coral-red fibrils and has a constant elliptical to fusiform diameter throughout its length of 4 to 8 cm tall. The cream-colored stem flesh turns blue when cut.
B. chrysenteron has large, yellow, angular pores, and produces an olive brown 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...
.
Similarities within taxa
Macroscopic observation of Boletus chrysenteron is not sufficient to determine this species with certainty, as many intermediate forms occur between it and other taxa; in particular, some forms of B. pruinatus and B. rubellusBoletus rubellus
Boletus rubellus, commonly known as the Ruby Bolete, is a small, dainty, brightly coloured member of the Boletus genus, with a reddish cap and stipe, and yellow pores. Like many boletes, it stains blue when cut or bruised. It is found in deciduous woodland in autumn...
are hardly distinguishable from B. chrysenteron without the aid of microscopic characters. B. porosporus
Boletus porosporus
Boletus porosporus is a small wild mushroom in the Boletaceae family. These mushrooms have tubes and pores instead of gills beneath their caps...
is also similar to this species, but it is easily separated on account of the whitish under layer and truncate (chopped off) spores. Also this species is easily confused with B. declivitatum.
Distribution and habitat
B. chrysenteron grows solitary or in small groups in hardwood/conifer woods from early fall to mid-winter. It is mycorrhizal with hardwood trees, often beechBeech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
on well drained soils. It is frequent in parts of the northern temperate zones. This species may not be as common as once thought, having been often mistaken for the recently recognised B.cisalpinus Simonini, Ladurner & Peintner.
Edibility
Boletus chrysenteron is considered edibleEdible 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 not desirable due to bland flavor and soft texture.
Young fungi are palatable and suitable for drying, but they become slimy when cooked; mature specimens are rather tasteless and decay quickly.