Imleria badia (“Bay Bolete”)

Description

Name in North American Boletes: Boletus badius AND Boletus badius var. macrostipitatus

Genus: Imleria

• Genus 2: boletus

Species: badia

• Species 2: badius
• Species 3: badius var. macrostipitatus

Common Name: “Bay Bolete”

Tells: Bay-brown cap, often flat or convex. Yellow pores may age greenish, bruise blue/gray green, & are depressed by stem. White cap flesh may bruise pink or blue but only by the tubes.

Other Information: Oft-wrinkled stem colored like cap.  Often grows on or near decaying wood, especially conifers. Cap can be viscid.

Science Notes: North American Boletes lists a parallel species, “var. macrostipitatus.” DNA tests have merged this back into the parent, which was moved to the genus “Imleria” and then renamed “badia” instead of “badius” to reflect the now-feminine genus name. Interestingly, the two species were reported to have different chemical test results. The macrostipitatus cap supposedly flashed green before resolving to a dark purple-brown with ammonia, and turned black with KOH.

Edibility: Choice.

CHEMICAL TESTS:

• NH4OH (Ammonia): Cap surface turns green to blue.
• KOH: Cap surface turns blackish. Pores turn golden brown.
• FeSO4 (Iron Salts): Cap surface turns bluish green. Flesh turns dull blue-green.

Links:

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

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