How to identify Orange Birch Bolete

To correctly identify Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum aurantiacum), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   The cap is hemispherical when young, becoming convex to flattened with age. It is typically dry and has a slightly rough texture. The color ranges from orange to reddish-brown.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   Instead of gills, Leccinum aurantiacum has pores on the underside of the cap. These pores are small and whitish when young, becoming yellowish to brownish with age. They are easily separable from the cap.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   The stem is stout and cylindrical, often tapering slightly towards the base. It is typically white with dark scabers (small, rough scales) that darken with age. The stem is solid.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   The flesh is firm and white, and it usually does not change color when cut, although it may turn slightly pinkish or grayish in some instances.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   The fruiting body of Leccinum aurantiacum is a bolete, characterized by a cap and a stem. The cap is typically orange to reddish-brown, and the stem is stout with dark scabers.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Leccinum aurantiacum is mycorrhizal with birch trees and is commonly found in deciduous and mixed forests. It fruits from summer to autumn.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Dry, slightly rough

Growth Form

Bolete

Spore Print

Brown

Body color

Orange to reddish-brown cap, white stem with dark scabers

Odor

Mild

Flesh bruises

May turn slightly pinkish or grayish

Height

5-20 cm

Cap Diameter

5-20 cm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Pores, not gills
• Stem shape: Cylindrical, tapering slightly towards the base
• Stem surface: Covered in dark scabers
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Solid

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