Species details

Black false bolete

Boletopsis leucomelaena

Conditional / expert preparation

Description

A dark grey to almost black fleshy pore fungus with a white-to-grey pore surface, characteristic of montane conifer woodland and conservation-important.

Identification features

The cap reaches about 10 cm or more, dark grey to black-brown and often slightly scaly centrally. Pores start white and become grey. The stem is short, dark and often eccentric. White flesh turns slightly pink in air.

Identification checklist

Check the very dark cap, white-to-grey pore surface, short dark stem and slight pinking of white flesh. Photograph the species in place.

Detailed features

Cap: The cap reaches about 10 cm or more, dark grey to black-brown and often slightly scaly centrally.
Hymenophore: Pores start white and become grey.
Stem: The stem is short, dark and often eccentric.
Flesh: White flesh turns slightly pink in air.

Size

Cap diameter: ≤ 10 cm

Habitat

Grows in montane conifer woodland, especially with pine, on soil or needle litter, from late summer to autumn.

Fruiting period

August, September, October

Ecology

Host trees: Pine (Pinus)
Notes: Grows in montane conifer woodland, especially with pine, on soil or needle litter, from late summer to autumn.

How to separate similar species

Boletopsis grisea usually has a paler cap and its flesh does not pink in the same way. Related pore fungi can be difficult to separate without the complete fruitbody.