Rubroboletus eastwoodiae (“Satan’s Bolete”)

Description

Name in North American Boletes: Boletus satanas

Genus: Rubroboletus

• Genus 2: Boletus

Species: eastwoodiae

• Species 2: satanas
• Species 3: eastwoodii

Common Name: “Satan’s Bolete”

• Common Name 2: “Miss Alice Eastwood’s Bolete”

Tells: Very large, bulbous, white-buff stem w/pinkish tints & reticulation. Everything blues. Cap has pinkish tones & often cracks in age.

Other Information: Yellowish flesh stains (often an odd aquamarine shade), sometimes slowly or erratically w/old specimens. Red pores fade to red-orange w/age & bruise blue. Can grow to be really huge (10″ across). Likes oaks.

Science Notes: DNA testing moved this mushroom into the newly erected genus “Rubroboletus.” The species name was changed to reserve “satanas” for the European lookalike – which is kind of a shame since it was so evocative of the mushroom’s power to cause illness. NOTE: This is the “Bad News Boletes” genus that includes many of the worst sick-makers. Red flags should go off when you see it. The other West Coast members are:

• Pulcherrimus, typically found in coastal CA and the worst sick-maker of all;
• Haematinus, the mountain red pored bolete;
• Amygdalinus, the oak loving red pored bolete.

Edibility: Avoid. Causes severe GI distress in many people.

CHEMICAL TESTS:

• NH4OH (Ammonia): No data.
• KOH: No data.
• FeSO4 (Iron Salts): No data.

Links:

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

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