Leccinum scabrum - Brown Birch Bolete

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Family: Boletaceae

Appearing under birch trees, and sometimes in large numbers, this summer and autumn fungus is a popular edible species. These large boletes are best picked while still young.

Leccinum scabrum is a very common mushroom, but that doesn't mean that its identification is easy. As with all members of this deceptively difficult group, confident differentiation of the various Leccinum species requires study of both macroscopic and microscopic features.

Various forms of this bolete were formerly treated as separate species - for example Leccinum rigidipes, Leccinum avellaneum and Leccinum roseofractum, but molecular studies have not supported these differentiations. For example a pale-capped form was classified as Leccinum avellaneum. (Occasionally you may even come across a 'Brown' Birch Bolete whose cap is almost pure white!)

Identification guide

Cap	Various shades of b rown, sometimes with a red or grey tinge, the cap of Leccinum scabrum is often misshapen and the margin wavy. 5 to 15cm in diameter
Tubes and pores	The small, circular tubes are off-white and the pores are similarly coloured. When bruised, the pores do not undergo a colour change.
Stem	White or buff and 7 to 20cm tall, the stems of Leccinum scabrum are 2 to 3cm in diameter. Immature specimens have barrel-shaped stems; at maturity most stems are more regular in diameter, tapering slightly towards the cap. Dark brown woolly scales cover the whole of the stem surface.
Spore print	Olivaceous brown.
Odour/taste	The faint smell and taste are pleasant.
Habitat	On or beside stumps; also beside woodland footpaths.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Frequent.
Similar species	Leccinum versipelle has a more orange cap and bruises blue-green in the stem base.