Zellers Bolete

Description:

The tubes that comprise the undersurface of the cap (the hymenium) are up to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long and angular, yellow, becoming dirty yellow and finally greenish-yellow; there are 1–2 pores per millimeter on the hymenium surface. They do not change color when bruised, although they may turn slightly brownish when exposed to the air for a time. The flesh is yellow to dirty yellow, up to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) thick, and inconsistently bruises blue when cut or broken. The stem is up to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall, 1–2.5 cm (0.4–1.0 in) thick, and swollen toward the base. The stem surface is red or yellowish with red lines, often white or yellow at the base, and solid (that is, not hollow), with fibrous flesh; in maturity the stem ages to yellowish-red to dark red. The spore print is olive-brown; one source notes that creating a spore print may result in "a lot of yellow juice on the paper".

Habitat:

Boletus zelleri is distributed in North America in the Pacific Northwest south to California and Mexico. It has also been reported from Tibet, but this may be based on a misidentification.

Notes:

Boletus zelleri is an edible species, although care should be taken to ensure that specimens collected for consumption are free of fly larvae. There is no distinguishable odor, and the taste is alternately described as pleasant, mild, or "slightly acidic". The original species description noted that the texture was "slightly mucilaginous". The mushroom is suitable for preserving or drying. It is harvested and sold commercially in local markets in British Columbia, Canada.