Orange Birch Bolete

Habitat

This species occurs on the ground in association with birch trees. It is frequently found in scrubland, open woodlands, or acidic sites, often near isolated trees. It grows solitarily, in clusters, or in small trooping groups on soil. While most commonly associated with birch, orange-capped Leccinum species of this type are also noted to occur near conifers, aspen, cottonwood, madrone, and manzanita.

Photos

Appearance

Cap

8–20 cm across; initially hemispherical then convex to flat; tawny orange to dull orange or yellowish brown; surface is slightly downy when young then smooth, dry to slightly sticky when wet; the margin features a distinct overhanging 'skirt' or flaps of sterile tissue.

Stem

11–20 cm long and 1.5–4 cm thick, often swollen toward the base; white to grayish, densely covered with woolly, brownish-black to black scales or scabers; bruises grayish-purple; white mycelium at the base.

Tubes

Adnexed; white to buff, staining pale wine-red to vinaceous when cut.

Pores

Small and angular; initially mouse-grey to whitish, becoming ochraceous or brownish with age; bruises vinaceous or brownish.

Flesh

Firm and white; when cut, it changes to pink or grey-violet/vinaceous, then turns dark purplish-black; often shows blue-green or bluish tints in the stem base; taste and smell are mild and pleasant.

Spore print

Ochraceous walnut-brown.

Edibility

While historically considered edible, this mushroom and other orange-capped species in the genus have been linked to multiple cases of gastrointestinal distress and may be toxic to some individuals. The flesh has a pleasant taste but must be cooked thoroughly or dried before use. It is closely related to Leccinum aurantiacum, which differentiaties itself by having orange-brown scabers in early stages rather than black.

Nutrient Source

It forms a symbiotic relationship with trees, exchanging nutrients in a way that benefits both the fungus and the tree.

Common Names

Catalan

molleró rogenc

Danish

Plettet birke-rørhat, Orange skælrørhat

Dutch

Bleke berkenboleet, Oranje berkenboleet, Oranje berkeboleet, bleke berkeboleet

English

Orange Birch-Bolete, Orange Birch Bolete

Finnish

koivunpunikkitatti, kalvaspunikkitatti, pohjanpunikkitatti

French

Bolet roux

German

Birken-Rotkappe

Northern Sami

ruksesgusaguoppar

Norwegian Bokmål

rødskrubb

Norwegian Nynorsk

raudskrubb

Swedish

tegelsopp, tegelröd björksopp, tegelfärgad björksopp, blek björksopp

Welsh

Cap Tyllog Melyngoch Bedw

Synonyms

• Boletus atrostipitatus
• Boletus floccopus
• Boletus percandidus
• Boletus percandidus
• Boletus roseotinctus
• Boletus rufescens
• Boletus rufescens
• Boletus testaceoscaber
• Boletus versipellis
• Ceriomyces viscidus
• Krombholzia rufescens
• Krombholziella atrostipitata
• Krombholziella percandida
• Krombholziella roseotincta
• Krombholziella rufescens
• Krombholziella versipellis
• Leccinum atrostipitatum
• Leccinum percandidum
• Leccinum percandidum
• Leccinum roseotinctum
• Leccinum rufescens
• Leccinum rufescens
• Leccinum testaceoscabrum
• Leccinum testaceoscabrum
• Suillus versipellis
• Trachypus rufescens
• Trachypus rufescens