Bronze Boletus (Boletus aereus)
Systematics:
- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Boletales
- Family: Boletaceae
- Genus: Boletus (Borovik)
- Species: Boletus aereus (Boletus Bronze (Boletus Bronze))
Other names:
- Boletus, bronze
- Boletus dark chestnut
- White mushroom shape dark bronze
Hat 7-17 cm in diameter
Tubular layer adhered to the pedicle
Spores 10-13 x 5 μm (according to other sources, 10-18 x 4-5.5 μm)
Leg 9-12 x 2-4 cm
The flesh of the cap in young mushrooms is hard, with age it becomes softer, white; the flesh of the leg is homogeneous, when cut it darkens slightly, and does not turn blue; smell and taste are mild.
Distribution: Bronze boletus is a rare mushroom, found in mixed (with oak, beech) forests and on moist humus soils, mainly in southern Russia, in summer and in the first half of autumn, singly or in groups of 2-3 specimens. Can also be found under pine trees.
Similarity: It is possible to confuse the bronze boletus with the edible Polish mushroom (Xerocomus badius), it has no net on the stem, and the flesh sometimes turns blue; the very high quality Boletus pinophilus may also be similar, but it is more common and has a wine or brownish red cap and larger size. Finally, in deciduous and mixed forests, you can find semi-bronze Boletus (Boletus subaereus), which has a lighter cap.
Rating: Bronze boletus – Good edible mushroom. For its qualities it is appreciated by gourmets more than Boletus edulis.
Photo of the mushroom Boletus bronze (Borovik bronze) from the questions in recognition:
2018.11.09 Vitalij 
2019.01.14 Vladimir Bobov 
2017.09.30 Jura 
2016.11.19 Oksana
