Tylopilus alboater (“Black Velvet Bolete”)

Velvety black cap. Oft-swollen or bulbous stem echoes the cap color. Pores & white cap flesh usually stain pink, then become dark.

SKU: Tylopilus alboater Categories: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Description

Genus: Tylopilus

Species: alboater

Common Name: “Black Velvet Bolete”

Tells: Velvety black cap. Oft-swollen or bulbous stem echoes the cap color. Pores & white cap flesh usually stain pink, then become dark.

Other Information: The cap may have a whitish or purplish bloom when very young, & can crack in age. Pores start out bright white & slowly age toward pinkish. Both the pores and cap flesh usually stain pink before turning dark, but the staining doesn’t always happen in extreme youth or age. Likes oak.

Edibility: Choice.

CHEMICAL TESTS:

  • NH4OH (Ammonia): Cap skin does not react. Cap flesh turns olive before shifting to brownish orange.
  • KOH: Cap skin turns amber-orange. Cap flesh turns pinkish orange.
  • FeSO4 (Iron Salts): Cap skin has no reaction. Cap flesh instantly turns grayish- to greenish- blue.

Links:

National Audubon Society Field guide to Mushrooms, Gary Lincoff 590 Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians 337 North American Boletes 256 BENA 366

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