Birch Bolete Identification – Leccinum scabrum
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The Birch Bolete, scientifically known as Leccinum scabrum, is an intriguing fungus with a few unique characteristics. The Birch Bolete thrives in association with birch trees, making it a common find in birch forests. If you’re in the woods between June to October, you might come across this fungus.
Birch Bolete: Key Parts in Photos
How to identify Birch Bolete
The cap ranges between 2-6 inches in width. Younger caps are hemispherical, but as the mushroom matures, it becomes flatter. It sports a brownish hue, generally with a lighter rim. While the cap’s skin is smooth and can sometimes appear shiny, it’s not sticky to touch.
Underneath the cap, you’ll find the pores, which are whitish when the mushroom is young. As it ages, these pores transition to gray. In mature specimens, the pores might bulge out near the cap but dent in near the stipe. This layer of pores can be peeled away from the cap’s skin.
The stipe is as long as the cap is wide, between 2-6 inches. The stipe is adorned with a mix of white and dark to black flakes and narrows towards the top. When you cut into the stipe, its flesh is white and might take on a pink hue, a handy identification feature.
The spore print of the Birch Bolete is olive in color. If you were to look at the spores under a microscope, they’d appear as narrowly ellipsoid shapes.
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