''Imperator rhodopurpureus'' is an inedible fungus of the genus ''
Imperator
The Latin word ''imperator'' derives from the stem of the verb la, imperare, label=none, meaning 'to order, to command'. It was originally employed as a title roughly equivalent to ''commander'' under the Roman Republic. Later it became a part o ...
'', found under deciduous trees including
oak and
beech
Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...
in neutral soils. Initially described as ''Boletus rhodopurpureus'', it was transferred to the new genus ''
Imperator
The Latin word ''imperator'' derives from the stem of the verb la, imperare, label=none, meaning 'to order, to command'. It was originally employed as a title roughly equivalent to ''commander'' under the Roman Republic. Later it became a part o ...
'' in 2015.
The bolete is considered
critically endangered in the Czech Republic.
Description
The cap is cushion-like, up to 15 cm in diameter; faint yellow- or pink-buff when young, later flushing red from the rim and becoming blotched with yellow, red and olivaceous tones.
The tubes are orange or red at first, then turning dark blue when cut. The spores are olive-brown. The stem is rather short, and sometimes very bulbous. The flesh is pale yellow, turning blue when cut.
Kibby, G. 2011. British boletes with keys to species
/ref>
Similar species
In the warmest regions of central and southern Europe the blood red-capped '' Rubroboletus dupainii''.
References
* E. Garnweidner. ''Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe''. Collins. 1994.
External links
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q882829
Fungi described in 1952
Fungi of Europe
Boletaceae