Massive Bolete!

[waynehicks1]

I found this monster this afternoon on a damp woodland path. Apart from the odd bracket, I think this is probably the largest single fungus I have ever seen, with a cap diameter of around 20-25cm.





I was struck not only by it's size but by it's beautiful, orange/brick red cap, a beacon standing out against the greens of the surrounding woodland. What a treat to stumble upon, a good end to what was admittedly a rather tiring, energy-draining foray.

White flesh which when cut remained unstained, apart from the slightest hint of blue just above the base. Cream pores that darkened to a faint brown after handling. It's also worth noting the blue staining which is visible of the stem while the fungus was in situ.

I can only go as far as Leccinum and from there I'm lost. With little confidence I did consider L.versipelle...

I'm sure there are plenty of people on the forum who will ID this one straight away, given it's size and colour.

Many thanks

Wayne

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by waynehicks1

....I can only go as far as Leccinum and from there I'm lost. With little confidence I did consider L.versipelle....

Looks like L.versipelle to me too.

I've seen many of this size in a local wood, but all with the typical stipe damage showing on your photo. (And more often than not a good deal of damage to the cap/pores too) - I can only assume they are very tasty to whatever is eating them.

I've only ever seen a couple at this sort of size without such damage.

Regards,
Mike.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by waynehicks1

. . . . . I think this is probably the largest single fungus I have ever seen, with a cap diameter of around 20-25cms . . . . .

Wayne

even including bracket fungi Wayne?

Chris

[waynehicks1]

I've definitely seen Larger bracket fungi, Chris. Up in Scotland in early summer, I spotted a Polyporus squamosus which, at it's largest tier, must have measured around 40/50cm in diameter. The whole fruit body, I'm estimating, could well of weighed in excess of ten kilos.

While we are on the subject of large fungi, this article was recently brought to my attention, which some of you may well enjoy:

Largest Fungus In The World Found Under Tree in China | Popular Science

Regards

Wayne

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by waynehicks1

I've definitely seen Larger bracket fungi, Chris. Up in Scotland in early summer, I spotted a Polyporus squamosus which, at it's largest tier, must have measured around 40/50cm in diameter. The whole fruit body, I'm estimating, could well of weighed in excess of ten kilos.

While we are on the subject of large fungi, this article was recently brought to my attention, which some of you may well enjoy:

Largest Fungus In The World Found Under Tree in China | Popular Science

Regards

Wayne

Interesting that - although I am sure 450 million spores is an under-estimate.
I believe the biggest single fruiting body in Britain is a Rigidiporus ulmaria, and I have seen one of these completely en-circuling a very large Elm (now sadly fallen) with what must have been a diameter of almost 2 metres.

Neil.

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by waynehicks1

I found this monster this afternoon on a damp woodland path. Apart from the odd bracket, I think this is probably the largest single fungus I have ever seen, with a cap diameter of around 20-25cm.





I was struck not only by it's size but by it's beautiful, orange/brick red cap, a beacon standing out against the greens of the surrounding woodland. What a treat to stumble upon, a good end to what was admittedly a rather tiring, energy-draining foray.

White flesh which when cut remained unstained, apart from the slightest hint of blue just above the base. Cream pores that darkened to a faint brown after handling. It's also worth noting the blue staining which is visible of the stem while the fungus was in situ.

I can only go as far as Leccinum and from there I'm lost. With little confidence I did consider L.versipelle...

I'm sure there are plenty of people on the forum who will ID this one straight away, given it's size and colour.

Many thanks

Wayne

To be sure Wayne the scabrosities on the stem would be quite black for L. versipelle and a reddish brown for L. aurantiacum, (which now includes L. quercinum, to which end, some may disagree.) The cap of the species in your picture does look more like the colour of L. aurantiacum which covers a species associating with Oak, Birch & Poplar. We need to see the stem clearer! If you have only one specimen, try cutting in section as you have done in the picture, one half facing down to show the cap and stem, the other up to show the flesh.

Cheers

Andy

[waynehicks1]

I hope this extra image will help with identification.



I didn't initially upload this picture due to it's bad quality.

Regards

Wayne

[Andy Overall]

Even though blurred those scales do look blackish don't they? Therefore I'd agree with L. versipelle.

Andy

[lawyerswig]

Yes, me too. The orange birch boletus is very good to eat as well.

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by lawyerswig

Yes, me too. The orange birch boletus is very good to eat as well.

Wash your mouth out !

Neil.