King Bolete (Boletus edulis)

[waylitjim]

This mushroom is known world-wide as one of the best edibles. It is called the cep in France, the Steinpilz in Germany, porcini in Italy, and "king bolete" in English speaking countries. It has many close relatives and varieties, most of which are almost indistinguishable in their excellence. One of the most sought after of all mushrooms, delectable fresh or dry. This magnificent has several forms that may be distinct species. Plump as a "little pig" (porcini), no mushroom is more substantial or satisfying to find! These were picked during a recent trip in Southern Oregon.

Ecology: Mycorrhizal with conifers, especially spruce, and (in some locations) with hardwoods; growing alone, scattered, or gregariously; summer and fall; widely distributed. In North America this mushroom is more common west of the Rocky Mountains, but is occasional in the east.

Cap: Brown to yellow-brown, or dark red. Convex in the button stage, becoming broadly convex to nearly plane. Underside of cap with a sponge layer; pore surface white when young, yellowish brown with age.

Stalk: thick (at least 1") white to brown, never yellow.

Taste: It is described as nutty and slightly meaty, with a smooth, creamy texture. When dried porcini have a rich smokey flavor.

Spore Print: Olive brown to brownish.

[SharkieJones]

Not a pretty mushroom is it? Did you grow them Jim? The polish store nearby sells them on ropes dried. I wonder If I could clone a dried one?

[the_chosen_one]

Always wanted to try those. We've got Zellers Bolete but it only appears in the fall and early winter. Nice pics Jim!

[Hippie3]

Originally Posted by SharkieJones

Did you grow them Jim?

Originally Posted by Waylitjim

These were picked during a recent trip in Southern Oregon.

[Hippie3]

kinda looks like an old oil painting

[loochypooch]

Very neat, your posts are always my favorite WLJ!

[waylitjim]

Did you grow them Jim?

lol, no...mycologists have been trying to domesticate porcini for years. So far, no one has been successful in any cultivation attempts. If they could be cultivated, the supply would be higher and the demand lower. Some species are highly priced because they cannot be cultivated and are only harvested from natural settings. Restaurants pay up to $65 per lb. for fresh porcini.

[hogwild]

wow 65$ a pound

What is the distribution range on these, jim?

[waylitjim]

In the US, California and New Mexico are major hot spots for Porcini gathering, with large harvests available in the pine forests and mountain areas. They're also common in Oregon, Washington and Colorado. In North America they're usually found west of the Rocky Mountains. In Italy Porcini are almost too popular, with gathering strictly regulated as Boletus is becoming endangered from over-harvesting. A permit is required and a strict quota of two kilos per week is enforced. Porcini harvesters in Italy are also required to gather the mushrooms in open baskets to let spores escape and ensure the survival of the mushroom. Pic below is from an Italian open air market.

Porcini grow in association of specific trees and are considered mycorrihzal associates - in effect, Porcini live in a symbiotic relationship with the trees they grow under. Many mushroom foragers find Porcini living under pine trees, poking up through the dead needles, but it is well known that the best Porcini are picked in chestnut woods. These Porcini are known for a light-colored hat and are the best eaten fresh. As the Porcini gets older, its underhat turns a darker color. All species of Porcini are characterized by a big, round, fleshy cap that is supported by a short round stalk. Boletus that change colors to blue when cut or bruised should not be eaten.

[SharkieJones]

Another neat pic Jim.

[Sneef]

Boletes are a good example of "All that blues is not gold". I find a lot of Satanas and Dryophilus in my parts...If you even look at the Satana wrong they blue. Nice pictures!!!

[redboy]

cool pics, reminds me of toadstool from mario bros.

[bluehelix]

Those are beautiful! They aren't beautiful in a traditional sense as defined by symmetry and textural or color uniformity, but they have a distinct rustic beauty that greatly appeals to me. I am now playing the game "Oblivion" and I don't know why, but mushrooms are WAY over represented in that game, especially the Boletus. You have mushrooms growing everywhere - in caves, in castle courtyards, in pots, etc. There are more mushrooms in the game than trees! In fact the game has so many mushrooms, one has to wonder if the artists were hard core mushroom fanatics (of the ones that stain blue I am sure). Anyway, thanks Waylitjim for those beautiful shots! I'd love to go hunting with you sometime!

[waylitjim]

Originally Posted by bluehelix

I love the way those look. They aren't pretty in a traditional sense, but they have a sort of rustic beauty that really appeals to me.

Thanks Blue. I couldn't agree more, and we're not the only ones!

[Lazlo]

Here's a great photo to add to the thread Jim. Damn pretty mushrooms IMO.

[Hippie3]

the munching chipmunk is cool

[AimlessWanderer]

i agree that chipmunk rocks

[bambuda]

Boletus edulis seems to be in the southern hemisphere, in New Zealand, growing under the oaks (Quercus robur, palustris, cerris [remote from Hagley]), beech (Fagus sylvatica), and birch (Betula pendula), in a park called Hagley (Christchurch, South Island)--first reported in 1995.
Associated fungi species were Amanita muscaria, A. rubescens, Scleroderma bovista, S. verricosum, S. citrinum, R.sororia, Xerocomus chrysenteron, Laccaria proxima, Thelephora spp., Paxillus involutus, Leccinium scabrum, and Cenococcum geophilum. (Publ. in NZ Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1995, Vol. 23)

--So they say.

[camMyco]

Good lookin' phatties you have there! I'd love to try some.

[hyphaenation]

All hail the king .... of mushrooms.

[mjshroomer]

Well Done WaylitJim,

That chip monk shot is priceless. Nice score of boletes.

mjshroomer

[little white rabbit]

nice thread, nice pics

here in austria i find many many kilos every year between july and october. this year i found about 60 kilos and i went out in the forests about 10-12 times.

i also have some pics from a hunt this year

1,2 B. edulis, those were to old to take but imo they're looking great
3 B. edulis and A. muscaria var. muscaria
4 this day i also found some Cantharellus cibarius, Boletus badius, Coprinus comatus and one Macrolepiota procera

[mjshroomer]

Well Little White Rabbit.
I see you did not have to go down the rabbit's hole to find those goodies. What a great score for you.

Kudos and have a happy meal on me.

I love to bread and deep fry mushrooms. They are so tasty and crispy int hat manner.

mjshroomer