Xerocomus tenax

Big, broad, brown reticulation on a stem that is whitish but may tinge yellow. Hard, wood-nugget root. Flesh stains reddish purple. Pores DNS or stain slightly red. Tastes sour.

SKU: Boletus tenax Categories: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Description

Name in North American Boletes: Boletus tenax

Genus: Xerocomus

  • Genus 2: Boletus

Species: tenax

Common Name:

Tells: Big, broad, brown reticulation on a stem that is whitish but may tinge yellow. Hard, wood-nugget root. Flesh stains reddish purple. Pores DNS or stain slightly red. Tastes sour.

Other Information: Likes oak & pine. Reddish-brown cap tends to crack by the edges & gets ever more uneven w/age. Xer. illudens is very similar but usually has netting that goes only partway down the stem, and can be less nuggety at the base of the stem.

Science Notes: DNA testing moved this mushroom into the newly erected genus “Xerocomus.”

Edibility: The books still say “unknown” but your author has eaten and enjoyed it, and both the lookalike Xer. illudens and the almost-lookalike Xer. ferrugineus are considered “good.” The chances approach zero that no one has eaten tenax while believing it was one of those.

CHEMICAL TESTS:

  • NH4OH (Ammonia): Cap skin turns green, then blue, and then brownish gray.
  • KOH: Cap skin turns brownish gray.
  • FeSO4 (Iron Salts): No data.

Links:

National Audubon Society Field guide to Mushrooms, Gary Lincoff  0 Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians  0 North American Boletes 167 BENA 426

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