Golden boletus (Aureoboletus projectellus)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Boletales
- Family: Boletaceae
- Genus: Aureoboletus (Aureobolet)
- Species: Aureoboletus projectellus (Golden boletus)
Synonyms :
Boletus projectellus
- Boletellus projectellus
- Ceriomyces projectellus
- Boletellus murrill
- Boletus heather
Previously considered a widespread American species from Canada to Mexico. However, in recent decades it has been confidently conquering Europe.
In Lithuania they are called balsevičiukai. The name comes from the name of the forester Balsevičius, who was the first in Lithuania to find this mushroom and taste it. The mushroom turned out to be delicious and became famous in the country. It is believed that these mushrooms appeared on the Curonian Spit about 35-40 years ago.
Description
Hat : 3-12 centimeters in diameter (some sources indicate up to 20), convex, sometimes with age it becomes widely convex or almost flat. Dry, finely velvety or smooth, often cracking with age. The color is reddish brown to purplish brown or brown, with a sterile edge - overhanging skin, "projecting" = "overhang, droop, protrude", this feature gave the name to the species.
Hymenophore : tubular (porous). Often depressed around the stem. Yellow to olive yellow. Does not change or almost does not change color when pressed, if it does, then not blue, but yellow. The pores are round, large - 1-2 mm in diameter in adult mushrooms, tubules up to 2.5 cm deep.
Leg : 7-15, up to 24 centimeters high and 1-2 cm thick. May be slightly tapered at the top. Dense, elastic. Light, yellowish, with age, the yellow intensifies and appears reddish, brown shades, becomes brownish-yellowish or reddish, close to the color of the cap. The main feature of the Golden Boletus leg is a very characteristic ribbed, mesh pattern, with well-defined longitudinal lines. The pattern is clearer in the upper half of the leg. A white mycelium is usually clearly visible at the base of the stem. The surface of the stem is dry, sticky in very young mushrooms or in wet weather.
Spore powder : olive brown.
Spores : 18-33 x 7.5-12 microns, smooth, flowing. Reaction: gold in KOH.
Flesh: firm. Light, whitish-pinkish or whitish-yellowish, does not change color at the cut and break, or changes very slowly, acquires a brownish, brownish-olive tint.
Chemical reactions : Ammonia - negative for cap and pulp. KOH - negative for cap and pulp. Iron salts: dull olive on the cap, grayish on the flesh.
Smell and taste : subtle. According to some sources, the taste is sour.
Edibility
Edible mushroom. Lithuanian mushroom pickers claim that golden boletus is inferior to ordinary Lithuanian boletus in taste, but they are attracted by the fact that they are rarely wormy and grow in accessible places.
Ecology
The fungus forms mycorrhiza with pine trees.
Season and distribution
Grow singly or in small groups in summer and autumn. In Europe, this mushroom is very rare. The main region of golden boletus is North America (USA, Mexico, Canada), Taiwan. In Europe, golden boletus is found mainly in Lithuania. There are reports that golden boletus was found in the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions.
Recently, golden boletus has been found in the Far East - Vladivostok, Primorsky Territory. Apparently, the region of its habitat is much wider than previously thought.
Photo in the article: Igor, in the gallery - from the questions in recognition. Thanks to WikiMush users for the wonderful photos!