Boletus edulis 



Common name: King bolete 



Edibility: Choice 



Description: This large, easily 



identified mushroom has a 



thick bulbous stalk, especially 



at the base, and a whitish 



spongy-pored (notgilled) 



hymenium undersurface. The 



surface of the cap is brown to 



reddish with a netlike pattern 



of raised veins. Because of 



the unique pored undersurface, boletes are easily identified, but other nonedible boletes 



also occur in this area. Boletes with red-pored hymenium or that bruise to blue are 



species other then B. edulis, and should be avoided. At the current time, boletes are a 



distant second to morels in popularity and contribute only slightly to the commercial 



harvest in this area. 



King Bolete, Boletus edulis. Mount Adams, Wastiington 



Habitat: Boletes are mycorrhizal with conifers in the Blue Mountains. Fruiting is from 

 the soil and may be single mushrooms but more often in groups. Fruiting is apt to be 

 during the fall at lower elevations, although some spring fruiting of the mushroom may 

 occur. At higher elevations, late spnng and summer fruitings are common. 



Uses: This is a prized edible and often is exported to Europe. There is substantial 

 contract collecting by professional pickers. 



