Boletus luridus?

[Mark J]

Hi there

My first post, so hope this fits the bill for confirming/questioning my ID efforts.

Found my first boletus today (), and have been trying to ID it using Phillips. I've IDed it as boletus luridus... but keep doubting the ID as I can't find mention/pics of the pinkish-blue colour the cap has seconds before discolouring (see pics 2 and 4)

pic 1. the two 20cm-ish boletes, one of which I cut in half (about half an hour before the pic was taken).


pic2. pic taken a few secs after being sliced in half, turning flesh from a yellow/pink (yellow in stem, more pink in cap) to blue (though colour in base of stem doesn't change from yellow)...


pic 3. reticulation on stem...


pic 4. red line above tubes, pic taken straight after cutting (within a few secs after cutting the line had gone blue/purple)


What do you think?

[FungiJohn]

Hello Mark and welcome to WAB.

It certainly looks like you have Boletus luridus.

The similar Boletus luridiformis has a dense covering of tiny red dots on the stem whereas Boletus luridus has a reddish network as shown in your image. B. luridiformis was formerly known as B. erythropus btw

Nice images for ID purposes too!

Was it growing under Oak?

John

[Mark J]

Thanks for your welcome and help John.

Stupidly, I didn't check what tree it was growing with, but thinking about the location I don't think it would have been with oak, maybe beech... I'll re-check the location later today to be sure.

[PMG]

Welcome to wab Mark - it certainly fits the bill for luridus - the persistent red line above the pores and the stem net rather than spots says luridus

Pauline

[Mark J]

Thanks Pauline and John.

P.S. I've now checked the location again, to see what trees the mushrooms were in association with and... they're all lime trees

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by Mark J

Thanks Pauline and John.

P.S. I've now checked the location again, to see what trees the mushrooms were in association with and... they're all lime trees

Hi Mark

It's only quite recently that many fungi have been positively associated with Lime, probably due to under recording of this host / habitat.

Clumber Park has a 3 mile avenue of limes (The longest lime avenue in Europe btw) and I have recorded many species over the last 5 years.

It may well be down to what was previously growing before the limes were planted but they are very productive in terms of species.

It's also worth noting any trees in the distance!!

John

[Mark J]

Thanks John. As there are only 30ft lime trees around where I found them (and no signs of any other previous trees), if they were first associated with another tree, I assume their mycellium must have been around for quite a while.

I don't know if this is better asked in a different thread, but... is the typical lifespan of a bolete mycellium known? or that a bolete mycellium must be at least X years old when it starts to produce mushrooms in association with its host tree?

[FungiJohn]

Hello again Mark

Originally Posted by Mark J

Thanks John. As there are only 30ft lime trees around where I found them (and no signs of any other previous trees), if they were first associated with another tree, I assume their mycellium must have been around for quite a while.

A good chance therefore of a ‘Mycorrhizal’ relationship with lime

Originally Posted by Mark J

I don't know if this is better asked in a different thread, but... is the typical lifespan of a bolete mycellium known? or that a bolete mycellium must be at least X years old when it starts to produce mushrooms in association with its host tree?

It depends on several factors or conditions, which include the species, humidity, temperature and the kind of substrate or host. Some could be measured in minutes whilst others, months or years.

However, I'm sure others such as Chris, Ken and Andreas et al could provide a more accurate answer

John