# Xerocomus

Xerocomus is a type of mushroom that grows in forests. It has a unique cap shape and can be different colors like brown or orange.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Forests

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

Photo: Daniel Ullrich, Threedots, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boletus_subtomentosus.jpg)

## Appearance

The Xerocomus has a dry, often velvety or finely cracked cap that can be various shades of brown, yellow, or reddish. Its underside reveals yellow pores that do not bruise blue instantly, and it stands on a slender, often ribbed stalk.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- If you find one, look closely for faint network patterns on its stem, a secret clue!
- Some tiny forest insects love to live inside these mushrooms, using them as homes!
- The name 'Xerocomus' means 'dry hair' because of its fuzzy cap!
- They are part of a larger group of mushrooms called boletes, famous for their pores!

## Special abilities

- **Root Whisperer:** Xerocomus can form a special partnership with tree roots that helps both the mushroom and tree get nutrients.
- **Color Shifter:** Xerocomus has flesh that often changes to blue when cut, a magical chemical reaction that happens very quickly!
- **Forest Seed Spreader:** Xerocomus can release millions of tiny spores into the wind, helping new mushrooms grow far away.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 4-15 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Size:** 3-12 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** soil
- **Season:** Summer to fall
- **Spore Color:** Olive-brown

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — shares nutrients with its roots
- **Symbiotic with:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — forms underground root partnerships
- **Symbiotic with:** [Scots Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/scots-pine) (*Pinus sylvestris*) — mycorrhizal partner in many forests
- **Eats:** [Leopard Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard-slug) (*Limax maximus*) — grazes on its fleshy fruiting body

## 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 Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible-mushroom): This trait refers to fungal species that are safe for human consumption when properly identified and prepared.
- [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 mushrooms you find in the wild. Some mushrooms can make you very sick.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Xerocomus?

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 Xerocomus?

4-15 cm

### Is Xerocomus edible?

edible

### How big is Xerocomus?

3-12 cm

### Where is Xerocomus usually found?

Forests

### What does Xerocomus grow on?

soil

### When is Xerocomus in season?

Summer to fall

### What color are Xerocomus spores?

Olive-brown

## 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: [Xerocomus: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/xerocomus)