White oak mushroom (Boletus reticulum) (Boletus reticulatus) photo and description

Oak cep (Boletus reticulatus)

Systematics:
  • Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
  • Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
  • Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
  • Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
  • Order: Boletales
  • Family: Boletaceae
  • Genus: Boletus (Borovik)
  • Species: Boletus reticulatus (White oak mushroom (Boletus reticulum))

Other names:

  • Boletus mesh

  • White summer mushroom

  • White mushroom mesh form

Boletus reticulatus oak mushroomDescription:

The cap is 8-25 (30) cm in diameter, initially spherical, then convex or cushion-shaped. The skin is slightly velvety, in mature specimens, especially in dry weather, it becomes covered with cracks, sometimes with a characteristic reticular pattern. The color is very variable, but more often of light tones: coffee, brownish, grayish-brown, leathery brown, ocher, sometimes with lighter spots.

The tubules are loose, thin, the edges of the tubules of young mushrooms are white, then yellow or olive green.

Spore powder olive brown. The spores are brown, according to other sources, honey-yellow, 13-20x3.5-6 microns.

The leg is 10-25 cm high, 2-7 cm in diameter, at first clavate, cylindrically clavate, more often cylindrical in adulthood. Covered along its entire length with a clearly visible white or brownish mesh on a light walnut background.

The pulp is dense, slightly spongy at maturity, especially in the leg: when squeezed, the leg seems to spring. The color is white, not changing in air, sometimes yellowish under the tubular layer. The smell is pleasant, mushroom, the taste is sweetish.

Spread:

This is one of the earliest species of porcini mushrooms, appears in May, bears fruit in layers until October. Grows in deciduous forests, especially under oaks and beeches, as well as hornbeams, lindens, in the South with edible chestnuts. It prefers a warm climate, more often found in mountainous and hilly areas.

Similarity:

It can be confused with other types of porcini mushroom, some of which, for example, Boletus pinophilus, also have a stem with a mesh, but it only covers the upper part. It should also be noted that in some sources Boletus quercicola (Boletus quercicola) is distinguished as a separate species of White oak mushroom. Inexperienced mushroom pickers may be confused with the gall fungus (Tylopilus felleus), which is distinguished by a black mesh on the leg and a pinkish hymenophore. However, it is unlikely to intersect with this form of white, since it is an inhabitant of coniferous forests.

Rating:

This is one of the best mushrooms, among others the most fragrant dried. Can be pickled, used fresh.

Video about the Borovik mesh mushroom:

Note:

White mushroom has long been famous for its medicinal properties. Even in Russia, they were treated for frostbite and ulcers, tuberculosis. Hercynin has been isolated from the mushroom, which is a good support for the heart. There is information about the anti-cancer effect of the fungus. In any case, it is good to use raw porcini mushrooms in different salads.