Curious Bolete

endless autumn · #1 (**permalink**) 30-07-2009, 03:35 PM

I can't find my camera lead so can't post a picture at the moment, but I found a group of odd boletes this morning on the Heath.

They were small (up to 8cm or so across), growing close together and in small clumps, on bare soil by a path in wood dominated by elder, but with other broadleaf trees (oak and beech amongst others, I think, but I didn't take note).

The cap is a warm chestnut brown, matt, even when wet, with minute cracks which give it a slightly rough feel. The stem, which is slender, is a similar colour, with a slightly orangey colour where scratched while growing. No network, just the same minute, rough cracking.

The flesh is white, very firm, and unchanging, with a pleasant but not distinctive mushroomy, perhaps very slightly floral, smell. The taste is distinctly sweet, a bit cep-like, but not distinctive. The pores are white/ pale buff, don't bruise immediately, but are a darker buff where they are older/ have been roughly handled. The pores are about the size of some of the X. chrysenteron lot, or a little smaller.

I'm sure I'm overlooking something, but I can't seem to find anything which fits. Does anyone have any ideas?

mollisia · #2 (**permalink**) 30-07-2009, 07:27 PM

Hello,

two ideas:
Gyroporus castaneus - which should have a hollow stipe
Xerocomus moravicus (oops, leonis I wanted to write

)

None of the two is sure, without picture it is always a lot more difficult.

best regards,
Andreas

Beamish · #3 (**permalink**) 30-07-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mollisia

Hello,

without picture it is always a lot more difficult.

but it bears a challenging kick, doesn't it?

regards, Martin

endless autumn · #4 (**permalink**) 30-07-2009, 11:17 PM

Thanks very much for the responses. Having had a quick re-examination of the books and the specimen, I am pretty sure it is/ they are Gyroporus castaneus.

I'll try to find my lead and upload a picture!

endless autumn · #5 (**permalink**) 31-07-2009, 02:49 PM

flaxton · #6 (**permalink**) 31-07-2009, 04:20 PM

It looks like canstaneus to me.

Mal

ManwithNoname · #7 (**permalink**) 31-07-2009, 04:53 PM

A nice find, and I'm seriously impressed that Andreas does identification without even a photo to go on.

mollisia · #8 (**permalink**) 31-07-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManwithNoname

A nice find, and I'm seriously impressed that Andreas does identification without even a photo to go on.

just have been lucky this time ...
And I did not do identification of course, but only gave my idea to the (good!) description.

best regards,
Andreas