Xerocomus chrysenteron

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Description

Young Xerocomus chrysenteron often have dark, surface dry, tomentose caps which might easily be mistaken for Bay Boletes. When fully expanded, caps are 4 to 10cm in diameter with very little substance and thin flesh blues when slightly cut or bruised,^[1] Caps mature to convex and plane in old age.^[2] Cracks in the mature cap reveal a thin layer of red flesh below the skin.^[1]

The 10 to 15 millimeter diameter stems have no ring, are bright yellow and the lower part is covered in coral-red fibrils and has a constant elliptical to fusiform diameter throughout its length of 4 to 8 centimeters tall.^[2] The cream colored stem flesh turns blue when cut.

X. chrysenteron are considered edible but not desirable due to bland flavor and soft texture.

X. chrysenteron leaves an olive brown spore print.^[1]

Similarities within taxa

Macroscopical observation of Xerocomus chrysenteron is not sufficient to determine this species with certainty, as many intermediate forms occur between it and other taxa; in particular, some forms of X. pruinatus and X. rubellus are hardly distinguishable from X. chrysenteron without the aid of microscopical characters. X. porosporus is also close to this species, but it is easily separated on account of the whitish under layer and of the truncate spores.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

  Solitary or in small groups in hardwood/conifer woods from early fall to mid-winter.

References