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Porphyrellus porphyrosporus

 
With its purple-brown cap and stipe, Porphyrellus porphyrosporus is a sombre bolete and not easy to spot, despite its large size. This summer and autumn species occurs under pines.

Identification guide

Cap

This sombre mushroom has a dark brown cap with a noticeably paler margin. Initially convex, caps expand and sometimes become irregularly lobed.

6 to 15 cm in diameter when fully expanded, the caps have soft buff flesh with a vinaceous tinge.

Tubes and Pores

The tubes and pores are greyish-yellow at first (as in the youngish specimen shown here) but, as the fruiting body begins releasing spores, the pores turn brown. 

When cut or bruised, the tubes turn blue-green.

Stipe

1 to 3 cm in diameter and 5 to 12 cm tall, the stems of this species are tobacco brown and slightly velvety to the touch when young, becoming smooth as the fruiting body matures.

The stem flesh is buff, turning slightly blue-green near the apex when cut.

Spore print

Vinaceous-brown.

Odour/taste

Unpleasant sour taste and odour.

Habitat

Under deciduous trees and in conifer forests.

Season

July to September.

Occurrence

Rare. 

Similar species

  1. The Bay Bolete, Xerocomus badius, is similar but with a shiny cap when fully developed; its tubes turn more blue when bruised.
First Nature Multimedia Guide to Fungi
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