Bitter Beech Bolete
Although not poisonous, this mushroom will ruin any dish you put it in due to its extreme bitterness.
Mushroom Type | |
Common Names | Bitter Beech Bolete (EN), Cap Tyllog Chwerw'r Ffawydd (CY), Gorzkoborowik Żółtopory (PL), Farkastinóru (HU) |
Scientific Name | Boletus / Caloboletus calopus |
Synonyms | Boletus calopus |
Season Start | Aug |
Season End | Nov |
Average Mushroom height (CM) | 7-10 |
Average Cap width (CM) | 7-10 |
Cap
7-10 cm. Cloudy grey with some tan hints. Starting a bit downy but becoming smooth with age. Can crack towards the centre.
Stem
7-10cm long, 3-4.5 cm diameter. Lemon yellow at the top going into red and finally brown at the bottom, this is covered in a light coloured reticulation. The stem can vary from swollen to slim and has traces of ‘roots’ when pulled up.
Flesh
Pale yellow but turning immediately off white on cutting and changing to blue after a short time.
Habitat
Beech and oak but will grow with other deciduous trees, sometimes conifers.
Possible Confusion
Other Boletes, particularly the Rooting Bolete (Caloboletus radicans), pictured.
Spore Print
Olive/brown. Subfusiform.
Taste / Smell
Bitter.
Frequency
Fairly common.
1 comment for Bitter Beech Bolete
Thanks for the advice, I found what I initially thought was a red cracked bolete but after seeing your video on red cracked boletes and comparing with a bitter bolete, I realised that I had a bitter bolete. As soon as I cut it, the flesh and gills turned blue – oh well hopefully better luck on my next foraging trip.