(5 votes, average: 2.60 out of 5)
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Aspen Bolete
Edible 
Autumn 
A scarce member of the Leccinum genus of the Boletes. Very similar to and probably often mistaken for the Orange Bolete, Leccinum aurantiacum. Usually found in small groups, a very solid and quite tall mushroom with a distinctive orange coloured cap and and a pale stem. Like other orange capped boletes needs thorough cooking.
| Mushroom Type | |
| Common Names | Aspen Bolete (EN), Koźlarz Białotrzonowy (PL), Vörös Érdestinóru (HU) |
| Scientific Name | Boletus / Leccinum albostipitatum |
| Synonyms | Leccinum aurantiacum s. Pilat |
| Season Start | Aug |
| Season End | Nov |
| Average Mushroom height (CM) | 10-20 |
| Average Cap width (CM) | 5-15 |
Cap
5-10 cm. Orangey red, domed even in mature specimens. Flaps of skin hanging over the edge up to 6mm lasting into maturity.
Pores
Off white to grey small round pores.
Stem
7-20 cm long and 2-5vcm diameter. Proportionally long. Very solid, tapering towards the cap. White with floccules (small raised protrusions found on the stem of the Leccinum genus). These floccules can be a gingery/foxy colour in some areas, but never dense dark brown. Base can be swollen and blue.
Flesh
Firm, thick. White at first, then sometimes turning wine red, then greys to almost black. Sometimes turning blue in the base.
Habitat
Associates with Populus species, i.e, various Poplars and Aspens.
Possible Confusion
The Orange Bolete (Leccinum aurantiacum) is very very similar. The stem has darker ‘floccules‘, and the cap is a redder, more foxy colour.
Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum versipelle), pictured, is very similar but only grows with Birch, has a lighter cap colour and has dark brown to black floccules on the stem unlike the orange/brown floccules of the Orange Bolete.
Frequency
Uncommon or rare.
Other Facts
This has been known by the name Leccinum aurantiacum for many years due to a mistake by the original scientist who described it. Later studies decided that this was incorrect and taxonomic law meant that the name had to be applied to a different mushroom – so a new name was given to this species. All very confusing, but new work has clarified the matter.
3 comments for Aspen Bolete
I found this kind of mushrooms in Rocky Mountain House in Alberta Canada, but I don’t know if I can eat, I would like to slice and dry to keep to prepare some food with dried mushrooms. Thank you for your advice.
Pretty sure I found one of these in October, West Yorkshire in mixed woodland. The blue staining at the base of the stem scared me off eating it. One thing that I noticed was an EXTREME discolouration of the sponge when I peeled it off. It went almost immediately to a very dark muddy brown. If this is a common trait of this mushroom, it might be worth mentioning on the ‘pores’ section – but I’m still not 100% sure this is what I had.
Sorry it took so long to reply. The flesh can turn almost black, usually after a couple of minutes but under the pores may be quicker. I was hoping to find one so I could check but sadly, I didn’t find any after your comment. If you have any photos, you can send them to us at [email protected] and we’ll try to confirm your ID.