Species details

White-stemmed aspen bolete

Leccinum albostipitatum

Conditional / expert preparation
White-stemmed aspen bolete – Leccinum albostipitatum

Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0 · Photo source · License

Description

An orange-red Leccinum with a characteristically white stem and pale scabers, growing mainly with aspen and poplar.

Identification features

The cap is 5–10 cm, hemispherical to cushion-shaped, orange-red. The long white stem has white to slightly orange-brown scabers that do not turn black. Cut flesh first becomes wine-red, then grey and may blacken.

Identification checklist

Key features are the orange-red cap, white stem with pale scabers and association with aspen or poplar. Check colour changes in cut flesh.

Detailed features

Cap
The cap is 5–10 cm, hemispherical to cushion-shaped, orange-red.
Stem
The long white stem has white to slightly orange-brown scabers that do not turn black.
Flesh
Cut flesh first becomes wine-red, then grey and may blacken.

Size

Cap diameter
5–10 cm

Habitat

Grows on damp acidic soils with aspen and poplar, less often elsewhere, in summer and autumn; rare.

Fruiting period

June, July, August, September, October

Ecology

Host trees
Poplar / aspen (Populus)
Soil
Acidic, Moist
Notes
Grows on damp acidic soils with aspen and poplar, less often elsewhere, in summer and autumn; rare.

How to separate similar species

Leccinum aurantiacum and L. versipelle usually have darker stem scabers. Tree association is an important clue.

Similar species

Extended-description sources