Leccinum scabrum

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Leccinum scabrum
Birkenpilz01.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Boletales
Family: Boletaceae
Genus: Leccinum
Species:
L. scabrum
Binomial name
Leccinum scabrum
(Bull.) Gray (1821)
Synonyms
  • Boletus scaberBull. (1783)
  • Krombholzia scabra(Bull.) P.Karst. (1881)
Leccinum scabrum
Information icon.svg
Pores icon.pngpores on hymenium
Convex cap icon.svg cap is convex
Adnate gills icon2.svg hymenium is adnate
Bare stipe icon.svg stipe is bare
Transparent spore print icon.svg
spore print is olive
Mycorrhizal fungus.svgecology is mycorrhizal
Mycomorphbox Edible.pngedibility: edible

Leccinum scabrum, commonly known as the rough-stemmed bolete, scaber stalk, and birch bolete, is an edible mushroom in the family Boletaceae, and was formerly classified as Boletus scaber. The birch bolete is widespread in Europe, in the Himalayas in Asia, and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring only in mycorrhizal association with birch trees. It fruits from June to October. [1] [2] This mushroom is also becoming increasingly common in Australia and New Zealand where it is likely introduced.

Contents

Description

L. scabrum of different ages Leccinum scabrum JPG7.jpg
L. scabrum of different ages

The cap is 5–15 cm (2–6 in) wide. At first, it is hemispherical, and later becomes flatter. The skin of the cap is tan or brownish, usually with a lighter edge; [3] it is smooth, bald, and dry to viscid. [3]

The pores are whitish [3] at a young age, later gray. In older specimens, the pores on the pileus can bulge out, while around the stipe they dent in strongly. The pore covering is easy to remove from the skin of the pileus.

The stipe is 5–15 cm (2–6 in) long and 1–3.5 cm (381+38 in) wide, slim, with white and dark to black flakes, and tapers upward. [3] The basic mycelium is white.

The flesh is whitish, sometimes darkening following exposure. [3] In young specimens, the meat is relatively firm, but it very soon becomes spongy and holds water, especially in rainy weather. When cooked, the meat of the birch bolete turns black.

Leccinum scabrum has been found in association with ornamental birch trees planted outside of its native range, such as in California. [4]

Habitat and distribution

Leccinum scabrum is a European species that has been introduced to various areas of the world, mostly appearing in urban areas. [3] In New Zealand, it associates solely with Betula pendula . [5]

Uses

The birch bolete is edible but considered not to be worthwhile by some guides. [6] It can be pickled in brine or vinegar. It is used also in mixed mushroom dishes, fried or steamed. It is commonly harvested for food in Finland and Russia. [7]

A few reports in North America (New England and the Rocky Mountains) after 2009 suggest that Leccinums (birch boletes) should only be consumed with much caution. [8] [9]

Similar species

Several different species of Leccinum mushrooms are found in mycorrhiza with birches, and can be confused by amateurs and mycologists alike. L. variicolor has a bluish stipe. L. oxydabile has firmer, pinkish flesh and a different pileus skin structure. L. melaneum is darker in color and has yellowish hues under the skin of the pileus and stipe. L. holopus is paler and whitish in all parts.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Boletus edulis</i> Edible species of fungus in the family Boletaceae, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere

Boletus edulis is a basidiomycete fungus, and the type species of the genus Boletus. Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere across Europe, Asia, and North America, it does not occur naturally in the Southern Hemisphere, although it has been introduced to southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. Several closely related European mushrooms formerly thought to be varieties or forms of B. edulis have been shown using molecular phylogenetic analysis to be distinct species, and others previously classed as separate species are conspecific with this species. The western North American species commonly known as the California king bolete is a large, darker-coloured variant first formally identified in 2007.

Boletaceae Family of fungi

The Boletaceae are a family of mushroom-forming fungi, primarily characterised by small pores on the spore-bearing hymenial surface, instead of gills as are found in most agarics. Nearly as widely distributed as the agarics, the family is renowned for hosting some prime edible species highly sought after by mushroom hunters worldwide, such as the cep or king bolete . A number of rare or threatened species are also present in the family, that have become the focus of increasing conservation concerns. As a whole, the typical members of the family are commonly known as boletes.

<i>Suillus</i> Genus of fungi

Suillus is a genus of basidiomycete fungi in the family Suillaceae and order Boletales. Species in the genus are associated with trees in the pine family (Pinaceae), and are mostly distributed in temperate locations in the Northern Hemisphere, although some species have been introduced to the Southern Hemisphere.

<i>Boletus</i> Genus of fungi


Boletus is a genus of mushroom-producing fungi, comprising over 100 species. The genus Boletus was originally broadly defined and described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, essentially containing all fungi with hymenial pores instead of gills. Since then, other genera have been defined gradually, such as Tylopilus by Petter Adolf Karsten in 1881, and old names such as Leccinum have been resurrected or redefined. Some mushrooms listed in older books as members of the genus have now been placed in separate genera. These include such as Boletus scaber, now Leccinum scabrum, Tylopilus felleus, Chalciporus piperatus and Suillus luteus. Most boletes have been found to be ectomycorrhizal fungi, which mean that they form a mutualistic relationship with the roots system of certain kinds of plants. More recently, Boletus has been found to be massively polyphyletic, with only a small percentage of the over 300 species that have been assigned to Boletus actually belonging there and necessitating the description and resurrection of many more genera.

<i>Leccinum</i> Genus of fungi

Leccinum is a genus of fungi in the family Boletaceae. It was the name given first to a series of fungi within the genus Boletus, then erected as a new genus last century. Their main distinguishing feature is the small, rigid projections (scabers) that give a rough texture to their stalks. The genus name was coined from the Italian Leccino, for a type of rough-stemmed bolete. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in north temperate regions, and contains about 75 species.

<i>Leccinum aurantiacum</i> Species of fungus

Leccinum aurantiacum is a species of fungus in the genus Leccinum found in forests of Europe, North America, and Asia and has a large, characteristically red-capped fruiting body. In North America, it is sometimes referred to by the common name red-capped scaber stalk. Some uncertainties exist regarding the taxonomic classification of this species in Europe and North America. It is considered edible.

<i>Xerocomellus chrysenteron</i>

Xerocomellus chrysenteron, formerly known as Boletus chrysenteron or Xerocomus chrysenteron, is a small, edible, wild mushroom in the family Boletaceae. These mushrooms have tubes and pores instead of gills beneath their caps. It is commonly known as the red cracking bolete.

<i>Xerocomus subtomentosus</i>

Xerocomus subtomentosus, commonly known as suede bolete, brown and yellow bolet, boring brown bolete or yellow-cracked bolete, is a species of bolete fungus in the family Boletaceae. The fungus was initially described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 and known for many years as Boletus subtomentosus. It is edible, though not as highly regarded as other bolete mushrooms.

<i>Leccinum manzanitae</i> Species of fungus

Leccinum manzanitae is an edible species of bolete fungus in the family Boletaceae. Described as new to science in 1971, it is commonly known as the manzanita bolete for its usual mycorrhizal association with manzanita trees. Its fruit bodies (mushrooms) have sticky reddish to brown caps up to 20 cm (8 in), and its stipes are up to 16 cm (6.3 in) long and 3.5 cm (1.4 in) thick. They have a whitish background color punctuated with small black scales known as scabers. Found only in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Canada, it is the most common Leccinum species in California. The mushroom is edible, although opinions vary as to its quality. L. manzanitae can be usually distinguished from other similar bolete mushrooms by its large size, reddish cap, dark scabers on a whitish stipe, and association with manzanita and madrone.

<i>Rubroboletus rhodoxanthus</i>

Rubroboletus rhodoxanthus is a species of bolete in the family Boletaceae, native to Europe. Previously known as Boletus rhodoxanthus, it was transferred in 2014 to the newly erected genus Rubroboletus, based on DNA data.

<i>Leccinum versipelle</i> Species of fungus

Leccinum versipelle, also known as Boletus testaceoscaber or the orange birch bolete, is a common edible mushroom in the genus Leccinum. It is found below birches from July through to November, and turns black when cooked.

<i>Leccinum atrostipitatum</i>

Leccinum atrostipitatum, also known as the dark-stalked bolete is a species of edible mushroom in the genus Leccinum.

<i>Leccinum arenicola</i> Species of fungus

Leccinum arenicola is a species of bolete mushroom in the family Boletaceae. Described in 1979, the fruit bodies (mushrooms) grow in sand dunes from New Brunswick south to Cape Cod.

<i>Buchwaldoboletus lignicola</i> Species of fungus

Buchwaldoboletus lignicola is a species of bolete fungus in the family Boletaceae native to Europe and North America. Found on wood, it is actually parasitic on the fungus Phaeolus schweinitzii. It has a convex yellow- to rusty brown cap, yellow to yellow-brown pores and stipe, and a brown spore print. Its edibility is unknown.

Harrya chromapes, commonly known as the yellowfoot bolete or the chrome-footed bolete, is a species of bolete fungus in the family Boletaceae. The bolete is found in eastern North America, Costa Rica, and eastern Asia, where it grows on the ground, in a mycorrhizal association with deciduous and coniferous trees. Fruit bodies have smooth, rose-pink caps that are initially convex before flattening out. The pores on the cap undersurface are white, aging to a pale pink as the spores mature. The thick stipe has fine pink or reddish dots (scabers), and is white to pinkish but with a bright yellow base. The mushrooms are edible but are popular with insects, and so they are often infested with maggots.

<i>Leccinum insigne</i> Species of fungus

Leccinum insigne, commonly known as the aspen bolete or the aspen scaber stalk, is a species of bolete fungus in the family Boletaceae. Described as new to science in 1966, it is found in North America, where its range extends from eastern Canada south to New Jersey and west to the northern Rocky Mountains. It is a good edible mushroom, but there have been documented cases of adverse reactions; these range from headaches to gastrointestinal distress, which may or may not be attributed to food sensitivities alone. The specific epithet insigne means "distinctive or outstanding".

<i>Leccinum holopus</i> Species of bolete fungus in the family Boletaceae

Leccinum holopus, commonly known as the white birch bolete, white bog bolete, or ghost bolete, is a species of bolete fungus in the family Boletaceae found in northern Asia, Europe, and northeastern North America. It associates with birch trees and is typically found in boggy or swampy areas, often growing among sphagnum moss.

<i>Leccinum rugosiceps</i> Species of fungus

Leccinum rugosiceps, commonly known as the wrinkled Leccinum, is a species of bolete fungus. It is found in Asia, North America, Central America, and South America, where it grows in an ectomycorrhizal association with oak. Fruitbodies have convex, yellowish caps up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter. In age, the cap surface becomes wrinkled, often revealing white cracks. The stipe is up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long and 3 cm (1.2 in) wide, with brown scabers on an underlying yellowish surface. It has firm flesh that stains initially pinkish to reddish and then to grayish or blackish when injured. The pore surface on the cap underside is yellowish. Fruitbodies are edible, although opinions vary as to their desirability.

<i>Sutorius eximius</i> Species of fungus

Sutorius eximius, commonly known as the lilac-brown bolete, is a species of fungus in the family Boletaceae. This bolete produces fruit bodies that are dark purple to chocolate brown in color with a smooth cap, a finely scaly stipe, and a reddish-brown spore print. The tiny pores on the cap underside are chocolate to violet brown. It is widely distributed, having been recorded on North America, South America, and Asia, where it grows in a mycorrhizal relationship with both coniferous and deciduous trees.

<i>Hemileccinum impolitum</i>

Hemileccinum impolitum is a basidiomycete fungus of the family Boletaceae, native to Europe. It is commonly referred to as the iodine bolete, because its fruit bodies tend to emit an iodine odour when cut, more detectable in the stem base or overripe specimens.

References

  1. Fergus, C. Leonard & Charles (2003). Common Edible & Poisonous Mushrooms of the Northeast . Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp.  51–52. ISBN   0-8117-2641-X.
  2. Arora D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi . Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. pp.  541–542. ISBN   0-89815-169-4.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. pp. 227–228. ISBN   978-0-88192-935-5.
  4. "Leccinum scabrum". California Fungi. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  5. McNabb RFR. (1968). "The Boletaceae of New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 6 (2): 137–76 (see p. 169). doi: 10.1080/0028825X.1968.10429056 . Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 276. ISBN   978-1-55407-651-2.
  7. Ohenoja, Esteri; Koistinen, Riitta (1984). "Fruit body production of larger fungi in Finland. 2: Edible fungi in northern Finland 1976–1978". Annales Botanici Fennici. 21 (4): 357–66. JSTOR   23726151.
  8. Bakaitis, Bill. "Diagnosis at a Distance" . Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  9. Land, Leslie. "Wild Mushroom Warning: The Scaber Stalks (Leccinum species) May No Longer Be Considered Safe" . Retrieved 2009-07-18.

Further reading