# Birch Bolete (*Leccinum*)

The Birch Bolete is a tasty mushroom that grows under birch trees. It has a thick stem and a brown cap!

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Under birch trees
- **Also known as:** Birch Mushroom, Leccinum, Orange Birch Bolete

![Birch Bolete](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425721/objects/5114.jpg)

## Appearance

The Birch Bolete has a smooth, often light brown to grey-brown cap. Its robust stem is pale white, covered in distinctive dark, shaggy scales called scabers. Beneath the cap, it has a whitish pore surface instead of gills, which do not change much colour when bruised.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Boletales
- **Family:** Boletaceae
- **Genus:** Leccinum

## Interesting facts

- Birch Boletes can grow so fast, they sometimes appear overnight after rain!
- Its brown cap sometimes feels a bit sticky after rain, like a tiny forest pancake!
- Many small animals like squirrels and slugs enjoy munching on this yummy mushroom!
- The stem's dark scales make it look like it's wearing a fuzzy, bumpy coat!

## Special abilities

- **Nutrient Networker:** Birch Bolete forms a vital partnership with birch tree roots, sharing nutrients that help both grow strong.
- **Fast Forager:** Birch Bolete can absorb water and nutrients directly from the soil, growing quickly after rainfall to spread spores.
- **Forest Floor Builder:** Birch Bolete creates an underground network of mycelium, helping to break down matter and enrich soil.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-15 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Size:** 5-15 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** soil
- **Season:** Summer to fall
- **Spore Color:** Brownish olive

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** [Silver Birch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-birch) (*Betula pendula*) — exchanges nutrients with its roots
- **Symbiotic with:** [Downy Birch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-birch) (*Betula pubescens*) — forms essential underground connections
- **Eaten by:** [Red Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-squirrel) (*Sciurus vulgaris*) — squirrels enjoy foraging for mushrooms
- **Eaten by:** Spanish Slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — slugs feed on the mushroom's flesh

## Traits

- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Birch Bolete?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Birch Bolete?

5-15 cm

### Is Birch Bolete edible?

edible

### How big is Birch Bolete?

5-15 cm

### Where is Birch Bolete usually found?

Under birch trees

### What does Birch Bolete grow on?

soil

### When is Birch Bolete in season?

Summer to fall

### What color are Birch Bolete spores?

Brownish olive

## Where to spot

- [Kianuko Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kianuko-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

---

Source: [Birch Bolete: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/birch-bolete)