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Leccinum versipelle

 
Appearing only under birch trees, sometimes together with Leccinum scabrum (the Brown Birch Bolete), Leccinum versipelle is commonly known as the Orange Birch Bolete.

Identification guide

Cap

This is a very large mushroom, and caps mature at between 8 and 20 cm diameter.

A distinguishing feature of this bolete is the fact that the cuticle overhangs the cap margin slightly.

Beneath the cuticle, the flesh of the cap is firm and white; it does not change colour when a cut surface is exposed to air.

Tubes and Pores

The mouse-grey tubes terminate in small pores that turn ochraceous with age.

Visible in this picture is another distinguishing feature of this bolete: the cuticle often has a ragged edge.

Stipe

The stipe, which can be up to 20 cm tall and is typically 2 to 4 cm in diameter, tapering in slightly towards the apex, has a pale grey surface covered with dark brown woolly scales.

When cut, the pale stem flesh turns blue-green and then almost black, especially near the base.

Spore print

Ochraceous-brown.

Odour/taste

Not distinctive.

Habitat

Beneath birch on heathland and scrub.

Season

July to September.

Occurrence

Fairly common. 

Similar species

  1. Leccinum scabrum, which also occurs under birch, has a brown cap; its stem flesh does not display a marked colour change when it is cut.
First Nature Multimedia Guide to Fungi
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