BOLETUS 



Though these volumes deal only with the Agarics, or gilled 

 fungi, a paper on mushroom poisoning would not be satisfactory 

 did it fail to include some matter on the Boleti and on Gyromitra, 

 especially since we have some positive data to report. 



Ford 22 says that the definitely poisonous Boleti are not many, 

 and that even the toxic, by reason of their bad taste or emetic or 

 purgative action, protect the user from great harm. But few 

 deaths have been traced to Polypores. Among the important escul- 

 ents are B. edulis, B. scaler and B. granulatus. The majority are 

 edible, but bitter and wormy varieties are common, and others 

 produce vomiting and diarrhea. Mcllvaine regards the genus as 

 very safe. On the other hand, a gentleman at Walloon Lake, Michi- 

 gan, after spending some weeks testing Boleti, said he had not 

 found one variety that did not make him sick! Warren (Port 

 Huron) says, "I never eat them and I tell otlfers to let them alone. 

 There are too many good kinds to bother with wormy Boletus." 

 B. satanus and B. luridus are everywhere called poisonous, though 

 the toxic principle is little known. Robert found muscarin in the 

 latter, but conservative Michael says it is edible. B. clmtonicmus, 

 B. cavipes, B. paluster, B. chrysenteron var. spliagnotum were all 

 found 22 free from muscarin or definite poisonous action on guinea 

 pigs and rabbits. Variety sphagnorum has not been reported 

 edible but B. chrysenteron and the other three are approved. 

 Mcllvaine, after years of testing by many people, is very positive 

 that both B. satanus and B. luridus are edible. Boletus felleus is 

 free from hemolysins and agglutinins and muscarin, but produces 

 chronic intoxication in rabbits and guinea pigs, fatal in two or 

 three weeks. Extract from the dried plant produced a steady 

 emaciation in rabbits and progressive cachexia in guinea pigs. 

 Probably to be classed as poisonous. 40 Very bitter and inedible. 



B. chromapes: No hemolysin, agglutinin nor muscarin. Poison- 

 ous only to guinea pigs. Decision deferred. Edible (Mcllvaine). 



B. afflnis and ornatipes: A thermolabile agglutinin destroyed at 

 150° F. No definite action. Edible (Mcllvaine). 



B. bicolor: An agglutinin ; negative on hemolysin and muscarin. 

 Non-toxic. One of the very best esculents (Mcllvaine). 



