Dusky Bolete

Porphyrellus porphyrosporus

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Mushrooms

By Roger Phillips

Published 2006

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Dusky Bolete Porphyrellus porphyrosporus (Fr.) Hök & E.-J. Gilbert syn. P. pseudoscaber Singer (illustrated 45% life size) Cap 5–15cm across; sepia to walnut-brown with paler margin, bruising darker on handling; velvety at first, becoming smooth. Stem 40–150×10–35mm; concolorous with cap, becoming more olivaceous towards the base, sometimes with lilaceous flush; initially velvety then smooth. Flesh buff to straw-coloured, becoming vinaceous then grey-olivaceous on cutting, with a touch of blue-green above tubes and in stem apex; taste and smell sour and unpleasant. Tubes vinaceous-buff, bruising bluish-green. Pores colouring similar to tubes, ochraceous or sienna around mouth. Spores 12–16×5–6.5¼, subfusiform. Spore print pale brown-vinaceous. Habitat with broad-leaved trees and conifers; late summer and autumn. Rare. Edible but not good.