# Boletus (*Boletus edulis*)

Boletus mushrooms are tasty fungi found in forests. They have a thick stem and a cap with pores underneath. People enjoy picking them for delicious meals.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Forests
- **Also known as:** Cep, King Bolete, Steinpilz

![Boletus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28Gemeine_Steinpilz%29_Boletus_edulis.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28Gemeine_Steinpilz%29_Boletus_edulis.jpg)

## Appearance

The Boletus has a distinctive broad, convex cap, usually brown or reddish-brown, which can feel slightly sticky when wet. Underneath, instead of gills, it has pale pores that yellow with age and bruise greenish. Its thick, pale stem often features a fine, raised net-like pattern called reticulation.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- A single Boletus mushroom can release trillions of microscopic spores!
- Its scientific name \*edulis\* means 'edible' in Latin, a yummy clue!
- Its stem often has a cool, raised net pattern called reticulation!
- Sometimes called 'King Bolete,' it's highly prized by chefs worldwide.

## Special abilities

- **Nutrient Navigator:** Boletus has an underground network that connects to tree roots, helping them share water and minerals with the tree.
- **Wind Rider:** Boletus can release trillions of microscopic spores that float on air currents, spreading new mushrooms far and wide.
- **Rainy Day Riser:** Boletus can quickly expand its fruiting body after rainfall, maximizing spore production in ideal conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-15 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Size:** 6-25 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** soil
- **Season:** Late summer to fall
- **Spore Color:** Olive-brown

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Exchanges nutrients and water with oak trees.
- **Symbiotic with:** [Norway Spruce](https://www.snappit.app/explore/norway-spruce) (*Picea abies*) — Forms beneficial underground connections with spruce roots.
- **Symbiotic with:** [Scots Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scots-pine) (*Pinus sylvestris*) — Thrives by sharing resources with pine trees.
- **Eaten by:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Squirrels often nibble on Boletus mushrooms.

## Traits

- [Mycorrhizal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mycorrhizal): This trait describes a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and the roots of a plant, benefiting both organisms.
- [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.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Never eat wild mushrooms unless an adult who knows them well says it's safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Boletus?

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 Boletus?

5-15 cm

### Is Boletus edible?

edible

### How big is Boletus?

6-25 cm

### Where is Boletus usually found?

Forests

### What does Boletus grow on?

soil

### When is Boletus in season?

Late summer to fall

### What color are Boletus spores?

Olive-brown

## Where to spot

- [Kijik](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kijik) — Alaska, US · Neighborhood
- [Kijik Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kijik-archeological-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District
- [Skandinavisk Dyrepark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skandinavisk-dyrepark) — Central Denmark Region, DK · Zoo

[View all places to see Boletus](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/boletus)

## 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*)

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Source: [Boletus: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/boletus)