bolete

Spongy-capped toadstool

A bolete is a fleshy mushroom with a cap and stem, distinguished by a spongy layer of pores on the underside rather than gills.

Many boletes are prized edibles—the porcini is the most celebrated—though some are toxic.

Foragers identify them by the pore surface: Cut the cap to see if it's a bolete or a gilled mushroom.

anatomy

cap

Covering for top

stipeBotanical supporting axis
poresMinute dermal openings
tubesHollow cylindrical containers

flesh · reticulation · bulbous · convex · dry · viscid · bruising · cuticle · context · base

mycology

basidiomycota

Spore-bearing fungal phylum

sporesAsexual reproductive bodies
myceliumFungal filament network
stipeBotanical supporting axis

pileus · cap · hyphae · tubules · pores · flesh · reticulation · boletus · spore print

edible

porcini

Edible boletus species

foragingSeeking wild food sources
gourmetConnoisseur of fine cuisine
umamiFifth taste sensation

delicacy · chanterelle · morel · truffle · maitake · gastronomy · cuisine · sautéed · risotto · dried

habitat

woodland

Forested land area

forest floorGround beneath trees
understoryForest's lower vegetation tier
coniferousProducing woody cones

deciduous · oak · pine · birch · spruce · symbiotic · humus · duff · dappled · shade

Categories

boletesboletus, porcini, imperator
fungimushroom, mushrooms, toadstool, toadstools, yeast
mushroomsshiitake, portobello, button mushroom, cremini, morels
mycologymycology, mushroom, toadstool, mycelium, mycorrhizae
mushroom foragingmorel, chanterelle, porcini, truffle, mesh bag
soil fungiPenicillium, mycorrhizae, Amanita, truffle, truffles

Opposites

spore-bearing structure

boleteagaric

Gilled, capped fungus

toadstool · Amanita · death cap · amanita · chanterelle

Family

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G