Leccinum versipelle - Orange Birch Bolete

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Family: Boletaceae

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

Formerly considered as separate species, following DNA analysis Leccinum cerinum, Leccinum percandidum and Leccinum roseotinctum are now considered by many authorities to be merely colour forms of Leccinum versipelle.

Identification guide

Cap	This is a very large mushroom, and caps mature at between 8 and 20cm diameter, remaining broadly convex rather than flattening out completely. 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 pores typically 0.5mm in diameter that turn ochraceous with age. Visible in the picture is another distinguishing feature of this bolete: the cuticle often has a ragged edge.
Stem	The stipe, which can be up to 20cm tall and is typically 2 to 4cm 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	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.