Bay Bolete

Habitat

This species is commonly found in mixed woodlands, particularly those containing beech or conifers such as pine and spruce. It prefers acidic or neutral soils and can be found growing solitary or in small groups on the ground or occasionally on well-rotted wood. It is known to inhabit sites where conifers previously grew and is also reported under hardwood trees.

Photos

Appearance

Cap

3–14 cm across; hemispherical or convex, becoming flattened; reddish-brown, chestnut, or dark brick-colored; texture is initially finely downy but becomes smooth, polished, and sticky or slippery when wet.

Stem

4–13 cm long and 0.8–4 cm wide; similar in color to the cap but often paler; surface is smooth or features brown fibrous streaks but never has a raised network (reticulation); may darken when handled.

Pores

Large and angular; initially cream to lemon-yellow, aging to olive; bruises distinctly blue-green or dark blue when touched.

Tubes

Yellow to lemon-yellow; adnate to slightly depressed around the stem; bruises blue or green-blue when cut or handled.

Flesh

White to lemon-yellow; turns faintly blue when cut, particularly above the tubes and at the stem apex; firm texture; can be vinaceous in the cap.

Spore print

Olive-brown to olive-green.

Edibility

The flesh can be an acquired taste, noted for being strong, earthy, or pleasantly mushroomy. While it is often considered less infested with insect grubs than related species, beginners frequently mistake it for the Penny Bun (Boletus edulis). The pores and flesh above the tubes characteristically bruise blue-green when handled or cut.

Nutrient Source

It forms a symbiotic relationship with trees, exchanging nutrients absorbed from the soil for sugars produced by the tree through photosynthesis.

Common Names

Basque

boleto bayo, Onto na, onddo arre, onto-arrea, ontouar, larro

Catalan

Sigró

Danish

Brunstokket rørhat

Dutch

Kastanjeboleet

English

Bay Bolete

Finnish

ruskotatti

French

Bolet bai

German

Maronenröhrling

Norwegian Bokmål

svartbrun rørsopp

Norwegian Nynorsk

svartbrun røyrsopp

Slovak

Suchohríb Hnedý

Spanish

Boleto bayo

Swedish

Brunsopp

Welsh

Cap Tyllog Gwinau Cleisiog

Synonyms

• Boletus badius — Bay Bolete
• Boletus glutinosus
• Boletus limatulus
• Boletus messanensis
• Boletus paludosa
• Boletus stejskalii
• Boletus vaccinus
• Ixocomus badius
• Rostkovites badius
• Suillus badius
• Suillus limatulus
• Suillus vaccinus
• Tubiporus vaccinus
• Viscipellis badia
• Xerocomus badius
• Xerocomus badius