Red Cracking Bolete (Mature and Young)

Description:

Boletus chrysenteron (synonymous with Xerocomus chrysenteron) is a small, edible, wild mushroom in the Boletaceae family. These mushrooms have tubes and pores instead of gills beneath their caps. It is commonly known as the Red Cracking Bolete.

Habitat:

B. chrysenteron grows solitary or in small groups in hardwood/conifer woods from early fall to mid-winter. It is mycorrhizal with hardwood trees, often beech on well drained soils. It is frequent in parts of the northern temperate zones. This species may not be as common as once thought, having been often mistaken for the recently recognised B.cisalpinus.

Notes:

Boletus chrysenteron is considered edible but not desirable due to bland flavor and soft texture. Young fungi are palatable and suitable for drying, but they become slimy when cooked; mature specimens are rather tasteless and decay quickly.