BOLETUS LEGALIAE Pilát

Description:

Cap up to 12 cm, at first hemispherical, later convex to flat-convex or almost flat, initially finely velvety, then smooth, at first almost white, greyish to dark grey, greyish brown, ochraceous or beige, with pinkish tint at the cap margin, later beige with irregular pink or vinaceous spots, often entirely dingy pink, dark pink or pinkish vinaceous. Stipe club-shaped or cylindrical, in the uppermost part bright to dark yellow, downwards orange red to red or pinkish red, with fine orange red or red network, in the lower pat with fine red or pinkish red granules, stipe surface blueing when handled. Flesh pale yellow, sometimes with reddish spots in the stipe base, blueing when exposed to air. Tubes yellow, blueing when injured. Pores red to orange, blueing when bruised. Smell of hay, persistent when the fungus is dried. Taste slightly acid. Spores 9–15 × 4–6 μm, ratio 1.9–3. Pileipellis trichodermium of interwoven septate hyphae of cylindrical, finely incrusted cells. Chemical reactions: hyphae of the flesh in the stipe base amyloid with Melzer’s solution. Distribution. In Europe widespread but uncommon, more often encountered in south. Similarity. Boletus rubrosanguineus is very similar, but is found under conifers. Boletus rhodoxanthus is also similar; it is distinguished on the account of its yellow flesh which blues mostly in the cap and remains unchanged in the stipe. Compare also with Boletus satanas, although the later usually has different cap colour.