The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Part 73

The pileus in the young plant is much more highly colored and fades out in age, but the margin does not become paler than the disk as is often the case with B. edulis. The specimens in Figure 290 were found in Michigan and photographed by Dr. Fischer. They are quite as good as B.

edulis.

_Boletus Sullivantii. B. & M._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 291.--Boletus sullivantii.]

Sullivantii is named in honor of Professor Sullivant, an early Ohio botanist.

The pileus is three to four inches broad, hemispherical at first, glabrous, reddish-tawny or brown, brownish when dry, cracked in squares.

The tubes are free, convex, medium size, angular, longer toward the margin, their mouths reddish.

The stem is solid, violaceous at the thickened base, red-reticulated at the apex, expanded into the pileus.

The spores are pallid to ochraceous, oblong-fusiform, 10-20 long.

_Peck's_ Boleti in U. S.

This species is very close to Boletus scaber and Boletus edulis. It differs from B. scaber in its reticulated stem and from B. edulis in its larger tubes. The specimens in Figure 291 were found by Hambleton Young near Columbus, and were photographed by Dr. Kellerman.

_Boletus parvus. Pk._

Parvus means small; so named from the smallness of the plant.

The pileus is one to two inches broad, convex, becoming plane, often slightly umbonate, subtomentose, reddish. Flesh yellowish-white, slowly changing to pinkish when bruised.

The tubes are nearly plane, adnate, their mouths rather large, angular, at first bright-red, becoming reddish-brown.

The stem is equal or slightly thickened below, red, from one to two inches long. The spores are oblong, 12.54.

They are found in thin woods, July and August.

_Boletus eximius. Pk._

THE SELECT BOLETUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 292.--Boletus eximius. Two-thirds natural size.]

Eximius means select.

The pileus at first is very compact, nearly round, somewhat covered with a mealy substance, purplish-brown, or chocolate color, sometimes with a faint tinge of lilac, becoming convex, soft, smoky red, or pale-chestnut, flesh grayish or reddish-white.

The tube surface is at first concave or nearly plane, stuffed, colored nearly like the pileus, becoming paler with age and depressed around the stem, the mouths minute, round.

The stem is stout, generally short, equal or tapering upward, abruptly narrowed at the base, minutely branny, colored like or a little paler than the cap, purplish-gray within.

The spores are subferruginous, 12.5-155-6. This plant is found in open woods where there are beech trees. I found it frequently on Cemetery Hill, Chillicothe. It is widely distributed, being found from the east to the west. July and August.

_Boletus pallidus. Frost._

THE PALLID BOLETUS. EDIBLE.

Pallidus, pale. The pileus is convex, becoming plane or centrally depressed, soft, smooth, pallid or brownish-white, sometimes tinged with red. Flesh is white. Tubes plane or slightly depressed around the stem, nearly adnate, very pale or whitish-yellow, becoming darker with age, changing to blue where wounded, the mouths small. The stem is equal or slightly thickened toward the base, rather long, smooth, often flexuous; whitish, sometimes streaked with brown, often tinged with red within.

Spores pale ochraceous-brown. Pileus two to four inches broad. Stem three to five inches long. _Peck_, Boleti of the U. S.

This species is very good, tender, and appetizing. I found it quite abundant in the woods of Gallia County and near Chillicothe, Ohio.

_Boletus alveolatus. B. and C._

THE ALVEOLATE BOLETUS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 293.--Boletus alveolatus.]

Alveolatus is from _alveolus_, a small hollow, referring to the pitted form of the pore-surface, which is one of the characters of this species. The pileus is convex, smooth, polished, usually rich crimson or maroon, sometimes varied with paler yellowish tints; substance solid, changing to blue on being fractured or bruised, three to six inches broad.

The tube-surface reaches the stem proper, undulate with uneven hollows, maroon, the tubes in section being yellow beyond their dark red mouths.

The stem is usually quite long, covered with depressions or pitted dentations, with intermediate coa.r.s.e net-work of raised ridges, red and yellow. The spores are yellowish-brown. I found this species in the woods near Gallipolis, Ohio, also near Salem, Ohio. The bright color of its cap will command the attention of any one pa.s.sing near it. It has been branded as a reprobate, but Captain McIlvaine gives it a good reputation. Found in the woods, especially along streams, August and September. Photographed by Prof. H. C. Beardslee.

_Boletus felleus. Bull._

THE BITTER BOLETUS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by Prof. Atkinson._

Figure 294.--Boletus felleus. Natural size.]

Felleus is from _fel_, gall, bitter. The pileus is convex, nearly plane, at first rather firm in substance, then becoming soft and cus.h.i.+on-like, smooth, without polish, varying in color from pale ochre to yellowish or reddish-brown or chestnut, flesh white, changing to flesh-color when bruised, taste exceedingly bitter, cap three to eight inches in diameter.

The tube-surface is white at first, becoming dull pinkish with age or upon being cut or broken; rounded upward as it reaches the stem, attached to the stem, mouths angular.

The stem is variable, tapering upward, rather stout, quite as smooth as the cap and a shade paler in color, toward the apex covered with a net-work which extends to the base, often bulbous.

The flesh is not poisonous but intensely bitter. No amount of cooking will destroy its bitterness. I gave it a thorough trial, but it was as bitter after cooking as before. It is a common Boletus about Salem, Ohio. I have seen plants there eight to ten inches in diameter and very heavy. They grow in woods and wood margins, usually about decaying stumps and logs, sometimes in the open fields. July to September.

_Boletus versipellis. Fr._

THE ORANGE-CAP BOLETUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 295.--Boletus versipellis. Natural size.]

Versipellis is from _verto_, to change, and _pellis_, a skin. The pileus is two to six inches in diameter, convex, orange-red, dry, minutely woolly or downy, then scaly or smooth, margin containing fragments of the veil, flesh white or grayish.