Bitter Bolete.

At a glance

Plant type

fungus

Water

Every 0 days

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 9

Bloom time

Mid to late summer through autumn

Care

This is a wild fungus that cannot be cultivated in a home garden setting. It relies on a symbiotic relationship with tree roots in forest ecosystems. Do not attempt to harvest for consumption due to its intense bitterness.

Watering

This species is a wild fungus and requires natural rainfall in forest habitats.

Feeding

Do not fertilize this wild fungus.

Pruning

Pruning is not applicable to wild fungi.

Repotting

This species cannot be repotted as it is a wild woodland fungus.

Temperature

5 to 25°C

Humidity

70 to 95%

Safety

People

It is non-toxic, but the intense bitterness makes it inedible.

Children

While not poisonous, the bitter taste is unpleasant and may cause a child to spit it out immediately.

Contact allergens

There are no known skin irritants associated with this species.

Airborne allergens

Spore dust can occasionally cause mild irritation if inhaled in large quantities.

Edibility

This mushroom is extremely bitter and will ruin any dish it is added to, though it is not considered toxic.

How to identify it

• Convex brown cap
• Pinkish pore surface
• Dark brown reticulated stalk
• Extremely bitter taste
• White flesh does not stain

Height

0.05 to 0.15m

Spread

0.05 to 0.12m

Flowers

brown, tan, 5 to 15cm

Common problems

• Hypomyces chrysospermus — A parasitic mold that covers the mushroom in a white or golden powder.

Growing it

Propagation

spores

Look for this mushroom in areas with acidic soil where trees like oak and pine are already established.

Grows well with

• Oak — This mushroom frequently forms mycorrhizal associations with oak roots.
• Pine — It is commonly found growing near pine trees in forest settings.
• Beech — It thrives in the rich soil found beneath mature beech stands.

Keep away from

• King Bolete — Foragers often confuse the two, leading to disappointment when the bitter taste is discovered.

Similar species

• King Bolete — It looks similar but lacks the dark, raised reticulation on the stem and is delicious.
• Bay Bolete — The pore surface bruises blue, which helps distinguish it from this bitter species.

Science

Family

Boletaceae

Genus

Tylopilus

Order

Boletales

Class

Agaricomycetes

Native range

Widely distributed across North America and Europe in deciduous and coniferous forests.

Conservation

This species is common and widespread, requiring no special conservation status.

It lives in a symbiotic mycorrhizal relationship with the roots of various trees, helping them absorb nutrients.

Value to wildlife

mycorrhizal partner, nutrient recycler

Uses

ecological study, mycorrhizal research

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it poisonous?

No, it is not poisonous, but it is considered inedible due to its extreme bitterness.

How can I tell it apart from a King Bolete?

Check the reticulation on the stem; this species has dark, raised netting on a lighter background.

Where the name comes from

The name Tylopilus comes from Greek words meaning knob and felt, while felleus is Latin for bitter as gall.

Good to know

• It is often mistaken for the edible King Bolete.
• The bitter taste does not disappear even with thorough cooking.
• It forms a symbiotic relationship with tree roots.
• The pore surface turns pinkish as the mushroom matures.