THE TUBE-BEARING FUNGI 



353 



Boletus subtomentosus. L. 

 The Yellow-Cracked Boletus. Edible. 



Subtomentosus, slightly downy. The pileus is from three to six inches 

 broad, convex, plane ; yellowish-brown, olive or subdued tan color ; cuticle soft 

 and dry, with a fine pubescence; the cracks in the surface become yellow. The 

 flesh is creamy white in mature specimens, changing to blue, and at length 

 leaden, on being bruised. 



The tube surface is yellow or yellowish green, becoming bluish when 

 bruised; opening of tubes large and angular. 



Figure 284. Boletus subtomentosus. One-half natural size. 



The stem is stout, yellowish, minutely roughened with scurvy dots or faintly 

 striped with brown. The spores are a rusty-brown. 



The cracks in the cap become yellow, on which account this species is called 

 the Yellow-cracked Boletus. The taste of the flesh is sweet and agreeable. 

 Palmer compares it with the taste of a walnut. The plant should not be feared 



