Species details
Orange bolete
Leccinum aurantiacum
Traditionally edible
Photo: Jdx · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source · License
Description
An orange-red bolete with a stout stem covered in brownish scales.
Identification features
The flesh often changes grey-blue to dark when cut. Related orange-capped Leccinum species are hard to separate without the host tree and close examination.
Identification checklist
Check the entire fruitbody for identification. An orange-red bolete with a stout stem covered in brownish scales. The flesh often changes grey-blue to dark when cut. Related orange-capped Leccinum species are hard to separate without the host tree and close examination. Typical habitat: With deciduous trees, especially aspen and related species, at woodland edges and in open woods.
Detailed features
- Cap
- 6–15 cm, orange to brick-brown; the cap skin characteristically overhangs the margin slightly.
- Hymenophore
- Tubes and pores are whitish at first, later greyish.
- Stem
- 8–20 × 1–2.5 cm, whitish, with dense scabers that are pale at first and become brown to almost black with age.
- Flesh
- White; when cut it may first develop lilac or greyish tones and then darken strongly to almost black.
- Smell
- Mild mushroom-like smell.
- Spore print
- Brownish.
Size
- Cap diameter
- 6–15 cm
- Stem height
- 8–20 cm
- Stem diameter
- 1–2,5 cm
Habitat
With deciduous trees, especially aspen and related species, at woodland edges and in open woods.
Fruiting period
June, July, August, September, October
Ecology
- Trophic mode
- Mycorrhizal
- Host trees
- Poplar / aspen (Populus)
- Substrate
- Forest soil
- Notes
- Mycorrhizal mainly with aspen and other poplars; occurs in open woodland, edges and places with its host trees.
Distribution
- Notes
- Distributed in Europe mainly where aspen and other poplars occur.
How to separate similar species
Compare especially with these similar species: Leccinum versipelle, Leccinum albostipitatum. Check the combination of cap shape and colour, spore-bearing surface, stem, flesh changes and habitat. A single feature or photograph is not enough; if the key characters do not match the description, do not treat the identification as confirmed.
Similar species
- Orange birch bolete (Leccinum versipelle)
Related orange-capped Leccinum are very similar and differ also in host association, scaber colour and flesh reactions; cap colour alone is insufficient.
Interesting facts
Did you know? For identifying orange-capped Leccinum, the associated host tree is often particularly important.