Photo ©2017 Joshua Hutchins
Patriotic Bolete - Boletus patrioticus
Family - Boletaceae
The Patriotic Bolete is a fungi associated with several tree species, in our case its Oaks, but in other places it is reported to also favour Hickory. Occasionally found in the UK, it will also be seen in Europe and the southern USA where its common name is said to refer to the red, white and blue of the US flag, IE the red cap, a white bulky tapered stem or stipe actually more a pale yellow colour and the blue tinge that occurs when the flesh is damaged.
Data for this species is not readily available so we do not know what size it may eventually attain but ours was in the order of 6.5–8cm (2.5–3in) across and around 5cm (2in) tall. Bolete mushrooms of which there are around 300 species, are dense and lack gills, instead having pores on their underside from which their spores are released. It grows in a mycorrhizal relationship with its host tree and produces fruit (mushrooms) only when the conditions are right for reproduction, which is usually when it's wet and cooler.
FBCP do not advise or recommend that Patriotic Bolete – Boletus patrioticus is eaten or used as an herbal remedy. Said to be edible but we do not recommend this, some reports detail mushrooms that stain blue when damaged as inedible.
Photo ©2017 Joshua Hutchins |
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