Oak cep (Boletus reticulatus)
Systematics:
- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Boletales
- Family: Boletaceae
- Genus: Boletus (Borovik)
- Species: Boletus reticulatus (White oak mushroom (Boletus reticulum))
Other names:
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Boletus mesh
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White summer mushroom
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White mushroom mesh form
Description: A hat with a diameter of 8-25 (30) cm, initially spherical, then convex or cushion-shaped. The skin is slightly velvety, in mature specimens, especially in dry weather, it becomes covered with cracks, sometimes with a characteristic reticular pattern. The color is very variable, but more often in light tones: coffee, brownish, greyish brown, leathery brown, ocher, sometimes with lighter spots.
The tubules are loose, thin, the edges of the tubules of young mushrooms are white, then yellow or olive green.
Spore powder olive brown. The spores are brown, according to other sources, honey-yellow, 13-20×3.5-6 microns.
The leg is 10-25 cm high, 2-7 cm in diameter, at first clavate, cylindrically clavate, more often cylindrical in adulthood. Covered along its entire length with a clearly visible white or brownish mesh on a light walnut background.
The pulp is dense, slightly spongy at maturity, especially in the leg: when squeezed, the leg seems to spring. The color is white, not changing in air, sometimes yellowish under the tubular layer. The smell is pleasant, mushroom, the taste is sweetish.
Distribution: This is one of the earliest species of porcini mushrooms, appears in May, bears fruit in layers until October It grows in deciduous forests, especially under oak and beech trees, as well as hornbeams, lindens, in the South with edible chestnuts. It prefers a warm climate, more often found in mountainous and hilly areas.
Similarity: May be confused with other porcini mushrooms, some of which, such as Boletus pinophilus, also have a netted stem, but this only covers the upper part. It should also be noted that in some sources Boletus quercicola (Boletus quercicola) is distinguished as a separate species of White oak mushroom. Inexperienced mushroom pickers can be confused with the gall fungus (Tylopilus felleus), which is distinguished by a black mesh on the leg and a pinkish hymenophore. However, it is unlikely to intersect with this form of white, since it is an inhabitant of coniferous forests.
Rating: This is one of the best mushrooms, among others the most fragrant when dried. Can be pickled, used fresh.
Video about the Borovik mesh mushroom:
Note: White mushroom has long been famous for its medicinal properties. Even in Russia, they were treated for frostbite and ulcers, tuberculosis. Hercynin has been isolated from the mushroom, which is a good support for the heart. There is information about the anti-cancer effect of the fungus. In any case, it is good to use raw porcini mushrooms in different salads.
Photo of the mushroom White oak mushroom (Boletus reticulated) from the questions in recognition:
2019.09.06 Natalia 
2019.03.19 Vasilij 
2018.02.08 Denis 
2019.06.22 Sergey 
2018.07.31 Olga
