Cap
|
Immature specimens, such as the one shown
here, are downy and pale yellow. As the fruiting body matures, the cap,
which expands to between 8 and 14 cm (exceptionally 20 cm) in
diameter, becomes dull yellow-brown.
The yellow cap flesh turns blue-black if it is cut or bruised. |
Tubes and Pores
|
Beneath the cap, yellow spore tubes terminate
in tiny circular pores that are at first yellow but eventually turn
orange-red.
When cut or bruised, the tubes and pores rapidly turn blue-black before
fading to pale blue. |
Stipe
|
1.5 to 4 cm in diameter and 5 to 10 cm tall, the swollen stem turns dark
blue when cut and then fades back to a light blue colour, as seen here. The
flesh near the base of the stem is deep yellow with red tinges.
The surface of the stem is yellow, covered with a red mesh patterning
everywhere except for
the top of the stem, which remains yellow. |
Spore print |
Olive-brown. |
Odour/taste |
Not distinctive. |
Habitat |
Most commonly found under beech trees on
calcareous soil, this species is also occasionally seen beneath oak trees
and limes. |
Season |
July to late October. |
Occurrence |
Infrequent. |
Similar species |
- Boletus satanus, a dangerously poisonous species, has a deep
red and very swollen stem with a chalky-white cap.
- Boletus erythropus has
a less swollen stem that is covered in tiny red dots.
|
