Suillus variegatus

Suillus variegatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Suillaceae
Genus:	Suillus
Species:	S. variegatus
Binomial name
Suillus variegatus (Sw.) Kuntze (1898)
Synonyms
Boletus variegatus Sw. (1810)

Suillus variegatus
Mycological characteristics
	pores on hymenium
	cap is convex
	stipe is bare
	spore print is brown
	ecology is mycorrhizal
	edibility: edible

Suillus variegatus, commonly called the velvet bolete or variegated bolete, is a species of edible mushroom in the genus Suillus. Like all bolete-like species it has tubes, and pores, instead of gills under its cap. The mushroom forms a mycorrhizal relationship with pine and occurs in North America and Eurasia.

Description

The cap is 6 – 13 cm in diameter. It is rusty to tawny, or ochraceous, and has a velvety or downy feel when young. As it matures the surface becomes smoother, even greasy, and tacky in wet periods. The stem is ochre, more yellow towards the top, and may be flushed with rust at the base. It is sometimes slightly bulbous. The flesh is pale lemon, and may turn very slightly blue on cutting. The pores are ochre, becoming more cinnamon later, and the spore print is walnut brown.^[1] Said to smell like an ‘Earth ball’ fungus (Scleroderma).^[2]

Distribution and habitat

S. variegatus appears frequently with, and is mycorrhizal with two needle pine trees in late summer. It is often found with heathers, and other acid loving plants, on sandy soils. It is widespread in Europe, nearer parts of Asia,^[2] and North America.

Edibility

Suillus variegatus is edible, but is said to smell unpleasant, with a somewhat metallic taste.^[2] It is one of the most common wild mushrooms harvested for food in Finland.^[3]

Image of S.variegatus showing cinnamon pores

References

1. Roger Phillips (2006). Mushrooms. Pan MacMillan. ISBN 0-330-44237-6.
2. Thomas Laessoe (1998). Mushrooms (flexi bound). Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7513-1070-0.
3. Ohenoja, Esteri; Koistinen, Riitta (1984). "Fruit body production of larger fungi in Finland. 2: Edible fungi in northern Finland 1976—1978". Annales Botanici Fennici 21 (4): 357–66. JSTOR 23726151. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)

External links

• Suillus variegatus in Index Fungorum