Boletus subcaerulescens (“Almost Bluing King Bolete”)

Stem has white netting high, darkening lower down & from handling. Reddish-brown, oft-wrinkled cap. Creamy pores age to yellow & may stain blue-gray that turns brownish.

SKU: Boletus subcaerulescens Categories: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Description

Genus: Boletus

Species: subcaerulescens

  • Species 2: aurantioruber

Common Name: “Almost Bluing King Bolete”

Tells: Stem has white netting high, darkening lower down & from handling. Reddish-brown, oft-wrinkled cap. Creamy pores age to yellow & may stain blue-gray that turns brownish.

Other Information: White cap flesh can have a reddish-brown zone near the cap skin and/or the tubes, & often has a pleasant smell (lemony) and/or taste (nutty-sweet). Prefers spruce. White mycelium. Note that the bluing is not a reliable feature, and thus should be used more for final confirmation than an effort to narrow things down.

Science Notes: 2022 Whole genome testing has merged B. aurantioruber into B. subcaerulescens.

Edibility: Choice, with no question about it.

CHEMICAL TESTS:

  • NH4OH (Ammonia): Cap skin turns bluish green, then bright orange with a dull gray-green perimeter, then yellow-orange. Cap flesh does not react.
  • KOH: Cap skin turns amber-orange. Cap flesh does not react.
  • FeSO4 (Iron Salts): Cap skin does not react. Cap flesh turns pale greenish.

Links:

National Audubon Society Field guide to Mushrooms, Gary Lincoff 0 Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians 301 North American Boletes 161 157

Got something to discuss?


Guest
amronè
3 years 2 months ago

I found 2 Boletes that turned a dark blue when I cut the stems off for Spore printing. Are these EDIBLE? New to this. Open minded. Thanks

Guest
amronè
3 years 2 months ago

Mid west US which other boletes stain dark blue?