BOLETUS. 28^ 



when young, subrufescent when old, sometimes two or three 

 springing from the same root. (Berk.) 



Another large Boletus occurs in pastures, under oaks, in 

 August and September, apparently distinct, though nearly 

 allied. I shall therefore give its characters at length, 

 leaving the establishment of it as a species for further 

 consideration. Pileus 10 in. or more across, pulvinate, 

 2 in. thick, pale ochraceous umber, smooth, but with a 

 satiny appearance from the minute matted silk with which 

 it is clothed, visible only under a lens; sometimes much 

 cracked. Flesh instantly changing from yellow to a 

 beautiful blue, which, however, is very evanescent ; towards 

 the edge the flesh scarcely changes at all. Tubes free, but 

 pressed close to the stem,' forming an irregular spongy mass 

 an inch thick, pale yellow, blue when bruised. Sporules 

 pale olivaceous ochre. Stem 3 in. high, nearly 3 in. thick, 

 bulbous at the base, generally reticulated only at the very 

 top, but sometimes half-way down, minutely pulverulento- 

 squamulose, of the same colour with the pileus, with a few 

 minute dark flecks, and just where the tubes end a few minute 

 red spots ; mottled with blue when cut. Taste like that of a 

 growing walnut. The growth of the tubes is sometimes- 

 partially checked, so that while on one side they are 1 in. 

 thick, on the opposite side they are not above ^ or -J-. I 

 have found the same plant more than a foot broad, more 

 decidedly tomentose, and of a delicate mouse-grey, and the 

 sides of the pileus remarkably compressed, so as to be 

 parallel with the stem, the flesh not changing uniformly to 

 blue, but becoming beautifully mottled, and the stem bright 

 red near the tubes. (Berkeley, in Eng. Flor., vol. v. p. 151.) 



The above form appears to be distinct from B. pacJiypus, 

 neither does it agree with any known species, and although 

 omitted in later works, cannot be ignored, and may possibly 

 occur again. 



Stem short, 1-2 in. long, ovate, thick, apex thinner, 1 in. 

 or more thick, firm, distinctly reticulated, lower half red, 

 apex yellow, glabrous, flesh yellowish at the edges, central 

 portion whiter, soon becoming bluish when broken. Pileua 

 convex, brownish-grey, olive, or clay-colour, 28 in. broad, 

 compact, rather tomentose, then glabrous, margin subin- 

 volute, soon patent and obtuse. Flesh white, slightly tinged 



