Xerocomus chrysenteron

Foto © Marco Floriani - Caldonazzo (TN)

Xerocomus chrysenteron

(Bull.) Quél.

Xerocomus chrysenteron is one of the most common species in this genus, yet it has been misinterpreted many and many times. Macroscopically it can be described as a slender bolete with a gray-brown, soon crakled cap, a red layer under the cap cuticle (see inset), and an often reddish stipe. It must be said, however, that macroscopical observation is not sufficient to determine this species with certainty, as many intermediate forms occur between it and other taxa; in particular, some forms of X. pruinatus and X. rubellus are hardly distinguishable from X. chrysenteron without the aid of microscopical characters. X. porosporus is also close to this species, but it is easily separated on account of the whitish subcuticular layer and of the truncate spores. (m.f.)