Boletus satanas - Devil's Bolete

Boletus satanus - Devil's Bolete

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Boletales

Family: Boletaceae

Boletus satanas, commonly referred to as the Devil's Bolete (or by some as Satan's Bolete) because of its poisonous nature, is a rather rare species in Britain and Ireland, although more common in parts of southern Europe; it found under oak and beech trees, generally on chalky soil.

All of the red-pored boletes are uncommon in the UK, but Boletus satanas is the rarest.

This large and very conspicuous bolete is mainly restricted to limestone and chalk areas, where it appears under oak and beech trees.

Identification guide

Cap of Boletus satanas

Cap

Ranging from 6 to 30cm in diameter, the cap is chalky white and velvety at first, darkening with an olivaceous or reddish tinge . It is bun-shaped at first but tends to expands irregularly with age.

When cut, the yellow cap flesh slowly turns pale blue and then returns to its original off-white colour.
Pore surface and stem of Boletus satanas

Tubes and Pores

The yellow tubes terminate in yellow pores that turn orange and then red as the spores mature.

Stem

Most specimens develop dumpy, rotund stems. (The stem shown here is from an immature specimen and has not yet fully expanded.) A red net pattern on a predominantly yellow background on the upper stem graduates to all red at the base.

Cut flesh of Boletus satanas

The stem flesh is off white and tends to become soft and spongy with age. When cut it blues slowly, returning to its original pallid colour with barely a trace of blue after a few minutes.

Spore print

Olivaceous brown.

Odour/taste

Do not taste any part of this species: it is poisonous. Young specimens have a mild odour but old ones smell rather unpleasant.

Habitat

On chalky soil beneath beech and oak trees

Season

Late spring and summer

Occurrence

Rare.

Similar species

Boletus luridus has a darker cap and orange flesh in the stem base; it blues instantly when cut.