# Liver Bolete (*suillellus amygdalinus*)

The Liver Bolete is a mushroom that loves to grow near oak trees! Its unique color and shape make it a fun find for little explorers in the forest.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** It lives in forests, especially near oak trees.
- **Also known as:** Oak Bolete

![Liver Bolete](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Boletus_amygdalinus_589.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Nathan Wilson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boletus_amygdalinus_589.jpg)

## Appearance

The Liver Bolete has a velvety, dry cap, typically dark brown to reddish-brown, sometimes cracking. Its vibrant yellow pores instantly bruise a deep blue when touched, a distinctive feature. The stout yellowish stem often shows red flushing.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- If you slice it, the flesh inside quickly turns deep blue!
- It prefers to grow near oak trees, sharing nutrients with them!
- Its cap feels like velvet, making it super soft to the touch!
- Some people call this mushroom the "Almond Bolete" for its scent!

## Special abilities

- **Blue Bruising:** Liver Bolete can turn vivid blue when touched because its special compounds react with air, signaling disturbance.
- **Tree Helper:** Liver Bolete has a hidden network that helps it share nutrients with oak trees, making forests healthier.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 4-15 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Size:** 5-20 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** soil
- **Season:** Summer to fall
- **Spore Color:** Olive-brown

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** [Coast Live Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coast-live-oak) (*Quercus agrifolia*) — Shares nutrients with this common oak tree.
- **Eats:** [Western Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — Squirrels might nibble on this mushroom.
- **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Deer may consume mushrooms as part of their diet.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [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.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not touch or eat wild mushrooms without adult supervision.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Liver 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 Liver Bolete?

4-15 cm

### Is Liver Bolete edible?

edible

### How big is Liver Bolete?

5-20 cm

### Where is Liver Bolete usually found?

It lives in forests, especially near oak trees.

### What does Liver Bolete grow on?

soil

### When is Liver Bolete in season?

Summer to fall

### What color are Liver Bolete spores?

Olive-brown

## Where to spot

- [Railtown 1897 State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/railtown-1897-state-historic-park) — California, US · 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*)

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