Red Cracking Bolete Boletus chrysenteron Bull. syn. Xerocomus chrysenteron (Bull.) Quél. (illustrated 45% life size) Cap 4–11cm across; dingy brown to pale sepia or buff with olivaceous flush, or flushed pinkish-red, particularly late in the season; slightly velvety then smooth, later cracking irregularly to show coral flesh, which makes this species easily recognizable. Stem 40–80×10–15mm; lemon-yellow at apex, red from middle downwards, becoming more buff towards base. Flesh cream or lemon-yellow in cap, brown to reddish-buff in stem, usually pale red just below cap, turning slightly blue above tubes and in base of stem, but only slowly; taste and smell slight, not distinctive. Tubes sulphur- or lemon-yellow, becoming greenish with age. Pores large, angular; colouring similar to tubes and sometimes bruising greenish. Spores 12–15×3.5–5¼, subfusiform. Spore print olivaceous walnut-brown. Habitat with broad-leaved trees; autumn. Widespread, once considered to be common but confused with B. cisalpinus (Simonini, Ladurner & Peintner) Watling & A. Hills and B. declivitatum (C. Martin) Watling. Edible but mushy when cooked.
