''Leccinum aurantiacum'' is a species of fungus in the genus ''

Leccinum ''Leccinum'' is a genus of fungi in the family Boletaceae. It was the name given first to a series of fungi within the genus ''Boletus'', then erected as a new genus last century. Their main distinguishing feature is the small, rigid projections ...

'' found in forests of Eurasia and North America. It has a large, characteristically red-capped fruiting body. In North America, it is sometimes referred to by the common name red-capped scaber stalk. Some uncertainties exist regarding the taxonomic classification of this species in Europe and North America. It is considered edible.

Description

The cap is orange-red and measures across. Its flesh is white, bruising at first burgundy, then grayish or purple-black. The underside of the cap has very small, whitish pores that bruise olive-brown. The

stem Stem or STEM may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...

measures tall and thick and can bruise blue-green. It is whitish, with short, rigid projections or scabers that turn to brown to black with age.

Distribution and habitat

''L. aurantiacum'' can be found fruiting during summer and autumn in forests throughout Europe and North America. The association between fungus and host tree is

mycorrhiza A mycorrhiza (from Greek μύκης ', "fungus", and ῥίζα ', "root"; pl. mycorrhizae, mycorrhiza or mycorrhizas) is a symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant. The term mycorrhiza refers to the role of the fungus in the plant ...

l. In Europe, it has traditionally been associated with poplar trees. Some debate exists about the classification of ''L. aurantiacum'' and '' L. quercinum'' as separate species. According to authors who do not recognise the distinction, ''L. aurantiacum'' is also found among oak trees. Additionally, ''L. aurantiacum'' has been recorded with various other

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

trees, including beech, birch, chestnut, willow, and trees of the genus ''

Tilia ''Tilia'' is a genus of about 30 species of trees or bushes, native throughout most of the temperateness, temperate Northern Hemisphere. The tree is known as linden for the European species, and basswood for North American species. In Britain a ...

''. ''L. aurantiacum'' is not known to associate with conifers in Europe. North American populations have been recorded in

coniferous Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All extant ...

and deciduous forests, though whether collections from coniferous forests are not '' L. vulpinum'', instead, remains uncertain. In addition, ''L. aurantiacum'' may be absent altogether from North America, with collections from deciduous forests being attributed to other North American species '' L. insigne'', and '' L. brunneum''.

Edibility

This is a favorite species for eating and can be prepared as other edible boletes. Its flesh turns very dark on cooking. Like most members of the Boletaceae, these mushrooms are targeted by

maggot A maggot is the larva of a fly (order Diptera); it is applied in particular to the larvae of Brachycera flies, such as houseflies, cheese flies, and blowflies, rather than larvae of the Nematocera, such as mosquitoes and crane flies. ...

s. Due to a number of poisonings and the difficulty identifying species, ''Leccinum'' species are considered by some as possibly not safe to eat. This species also needs to be cooked well (not parboiled) or else it may cause vomiting or other negative effects. Some report gastrointestinal upset after eating this species.

Similar species

In Europe, several orange-red capped species exist, which differ mainly in habitat. '' L. albostipitatum'' grows with aspen and has white scales on the stipe. In coniferous forests, ''L. vulpinum'' occurs around pine and spruce trees. Not all authors recognise these as distinct species. In North America, ''L. insigne'' grows in aspen or birch stands, while '' L. atrostipitatum'' grows in birch stands. Both are edible. Another similar species is '' L. versipelle''.

References

* ''National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms'', Knopf, 1981.

External links