Boletus Torosus 4

''Boletus'' is a genus of mushroom-producing fungi, comprising over 100 species. The genus ''Boletus'' was originally broadly defined and described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, essentially containing all fungi with hymenial pores instead of gills. Since then, other genera have been defined gradually, such as '' Tylopilus'' by Petter Adolf Karsten in 1881, and old names such as '' Leccinum'' have been resurrected or redefined. Some mushrooms listed in older books as members of the genus have now been placed in separate genera. These include such as ''Boletus scaber'', now '' Leccinum scabrum'', '' Tylopilus felleus'', '' Chalciporus piperatus'' and '' Suillus luteus''. Most boletes have been found to be ectomycorrhizal fungi, which mean that they form a mutualistic relationship with the roots system of certain kinds of plants. More recently, ''Boletus'' has been found to be massively polyphyletic, with only a small percentage of the over 300 species that have been assigned to ''Boletus'' actually belonging there and necessitating the description and resurrection of many more genera.

The name is derived from the Latin term ''bōlētus'' 'mushroom' from the Ancient Greek , ', ultimately from , ' 'lump' or 'clod'. However, the of Galen is thought to have been the much prized ''Amanita caesarea''.

Phylogenetic tree of ''Boletus''

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Edibility

The genus ''Boletus'' contains many members which are edible, such as '' Boletus edulis'', '' Boletus aereus'' and '' Boletus barrowsii''.

Boletes with red pores may be toxic.

See also

* Bolete eater, a fungal parasite of various ''Boletus'' species
* List of ''Boletus'' species

References

External links

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Boletales genera
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus