Help with ID: Boletus aestivalis (= reticulatus) vs. edulis

[Chris Sharpe]

Hello fellow fungus enthusiasts! I am new to this website and hope not to duplicate a request for help in my first message!

Last weekend I got the chance to stroll out along an interesting trail in south Norfolk which turned out to be full of fascinating fungi. I have lived outside the UK for the past 20+ years and am no longer confident in identifying British fungi, so I would appreciate any comments you experts might have. I came across large numbers of sizeable Boleti which were reminiscent of B. edulis but with yellow pores - most were old, but even the smaller younger specimens had distinctly yellow, rather than whitish pores. The stipes were more or less spindle shaped - slightly bulbous at the base - with an inconspicuous whitish net right to the base. The caps were medium brown, uncracked, uncreased at the margins and lacking the typical B. edulis white rim. There was no bruising on cutting the firm white flesh and there were few maggots. The habitat is mixed deciduous woodland, and these fungi seemed to be associated with oaks.

I brought a couple of specimens home - a large (25cm cap diam.) fruiting body and a small, firm one. Having consulted a host of my old books - both UK Phillips, Lange & Hora, Bon, Courtecuisse & Duhem, Jordan, Sterry & Hughes - I am confused as to how to separate these two species. The respective texts and illustrations do not quite agree and leave me in some doubt. I wonder, what are the "definitive" field characters of B. aestivalis (= reticulatus)?

Oh, I also glanced at Carluccio's "Complete Mushroom Book" which states that the cap of B. aestivalis "is often covered with a cracked network... which is why its synonym is 'reticulatus'". Doesn't the 'reticulatus' refer to the stipe reticulation?

Finally, is there a reliable key to Boletus species? Where does one go when the popular field guides seem inadequate? I have noticed a new (for me) six volume guide to Swiss fungi.

Many thanks in advance for your help!

[vyhul]

Hello.Main difference between boletus edulist and boletus reticulatus is:
Boletus edulis-darker colour of cap and lighter of stem,
Boletus reticulatus-lighter colour of cap and darker of stem,

it`s probably Boletus depilatus:
Nahuby.sk - Fotografia - hríb jamkatý (Boletus depilatus Redeuilh)
Nahuby.sk - Fotografia - Hríb jamkatý (Boletus depilatus Redeuilh)
Nahuby.sk - Fotografia - Hríb jamkatý (Boletus depilatus Redeuilh)

Boletus depilatus has yellow pores and hes small "craters" on top of the cap

I hope that I helped and sorry for my english...I`m from Slovakia

[vyhul]

also it could be Boletus betulicola :
Nahuby.sk - Fotografia - H?ib b?ezový - Hríb brezový (Boletus betulicola (Vasilkov) Pilát et Dermek 1974 )
Nahuby.sk - Fotografia - Hríb brezový (Boletus betulicola (Vassilkov) Pilát & Dermek (19)

[SheffieldLass]

It seems to come down to the cap ... B edulis is greasy, and when a bit is put in KOH under the microscope the hyphae stick together. The cap of B reticulatus is dry and often cracking, and when put in KOH under the microscope spreads out easily. That is according to Funga Nordica.

Both do start off with white pores though. They become yellowish when the spores start to mature.

Melanie

[Ditiola]

Chris

Keys to 36 British taxa in:

British Fungus Flora Vol 1 Reveised edition (2005) Boletes and their Allies, by R Watling & A E Hills. ISBN 1 872291 89 9



Peter

[Chris Sharpe]

Many thanks for your helpful comments Melanie, Peter & vyhul! The photographs of "B. depilatus" are very similar to the specimens I was asking about. I can see that this is more complicated than I thought, and we probably can't get further without reagents and a microscope. Sooner or later I'll have to root out Watling & Hills, or bite the bullet and get hold of one of the more expensive keys that will go beyond the popular literature. Meanwhile your comments are much appreciated!