A Bolete by Any Other Name...

The heavy hitters of Boletus and the ones most are scouring the woods for once the first big fall rains arrive. These mushrooms have remained in the genus Boletus but with some species name changes.

Boletus barrowsii

The “White King” bolete remains with no changes.

Boletus edulis var. grandedulis

The “King” bolete got “var. grandedulis” appended to its name. We may also have the true European king bolete here growing with imported pine trees, but that will remain speculation until the genetic work is done.

Boletus regineus

The “Queen” bolete, which used to be Boletus aereus, a misapplied European name. Thankfully the name change did not affect its edibility.

Here is, in my opinion, the biggest change of them all. The “Butter” boletes have now been moved out of Boletus and into their own genus Butyriboletus. On top of that, we now have three local species instead of the traditional two.

Butyriboletus persolidus

Our traditional “Butter” bolete, that beautiful, intense blue staining, rock hard edible bolete found with hardwoods. It used to go by Boletus appendictulatus.

Butyriboletus querciregius

The “Pink-capped Butter” bolete, aka the elusive cousin of the more common butter bolete. I have still never found this thing..

Butyriboletus autumniregius

The new one on the scene is the rosy autumn butter bolete, a.k.a., the “other” pink-capped butter bolete. This one differs from the other both genetically and by preferred habitat. It grows with coastal conifers instead of with hardwoods. This is probably the one that grows with the pine (and matsutake) around the fire roads of upper UCSC campus.

These are usually way more common than any of the boletes we have covered thus far. Sometimes called the “Woodland” boletes, they flourish fall through spring in both our live oak and tan oak habitats (they like hardwoods). Identifying down to species can be tough, and we may have undescribed species or members going by European names.

Xerocomellus chrysenteron

The “Cracked Cap” bolete. Used to be B. chrysenteron.

Xerocomellus dryophilus

Xerocomellus dryophilus – Probably one you are not familiar with. Really pretty red-capped mushroom that is sporadic in the county, but often common where it does occur. Formally B. dryophilus.

Xerocomellus truncatus

Xerocomellus truncatus – Macroscopically very similar to X. chrysenteron and often difficult to tell apart. Used to be B. truncatus.

Xerocomellus zelleri and Xerocomellus atropurpureus

“Zeller's” bolete and supposedly the best edible of the bunch... (But put enough butter, salt and garlic on a piece of cardboard and it too can be the best edible in Office Max. Fifteen glasses of wine prior probably does not hurt either...) Regardless, a really striking mushroom when fresh. Both to be B. zelleri. Xerocomellus atropurpureus is considered the more common of the two.

Aureoboletus citriniporus

The dry-capped one. Previously Boletus citriniporus

Aureoboletus flaviporus

The slimy-capped one. Boletus flaviporus

I guess what could be called the “poisonous” bolete group, these two were in limbo for a while, but have now been reclassified.

Suillellus amygdalinus

No common name that I know of. Orangish pores and intensely stains blue. Grows with hardwoods. Long thought to be poisonous, recent discussions and some unverified taste tests claim it is actually edible. That is NOT an invitation for you to find out for sure. But if you do let me know. Formerly Boletus amygdalinus.

Rubroboletus eastwoodiae

The North American counterpart to "Satan's bolete" (Rubroboletus satanas). The common name is often misapplied here. Formerly known as Boletus eastwoodiae and Boletus satanas. Huge and gorgeous. Some years scarce, some years fruiting in enormous quantities. Easy one to learn. This species is without question seriously poisonous!