Tylopilus plumbeoviolaceus (“Violet Gray Bolete”)

Description

Genus: Tylopilus

Species: plumbeoviolaceus

Common Name: “Violet Gray Bolete”

Tells: Purplish stem is marbled or streaked w/white, & browns w/age. Cap is similar but browner, often w/a whitish bloom. Bitter, white cap flesh DNS.

Other Information: The stem may have a tiny bit of netting at the very top, and may bruise olive or olive-brown. Compare to  T. violatinctus, which is more pink than purple, has a cap that bruises violet, and tends to be buggy (plumbeoviolaceus rarely has bugs). Also compart to T. rubrobrunneus, which has more brown. All are absolutely beautiful, meaty mushrooms. It’s a genuine shame they taste so awful.

Edibility: Too bitter to eat but useful for unique approaches like cocktail bitters or bittersweet candied products. It isn’t toxic; just absurdly bitter in a way that gets worse when you cook it.

CHEMICAL TESTS:

• NH4OH (Ammonia): Cap surface turns pale brownish amber. Cap flesh does not react. Stem skin turns pale yellow.
• KOH: Cap surface turns orange to dull amber. Cap flesh does not react. Stem skin turns dull yellow.
• FeSO4 (Iron Salts): Cap surface turns pale brownish amber. Cap flesh turns yellowish to pinkish. Stem skin does not react.

Links:

• Mushroom Expert
• Mushroom Observer
• Wikipedia
• Google Image Search

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