How to identify Red-cracked Bolete

To correctly identify Red-cracked Bolete (Xerocomellus chrysenteron), 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 convex, becoming flattened with age, and ranges from 3 to 10 cm in diameter. Its color varies from olive-brown to reddish-brown. The surface is characteristically cracked, revealing a red layer underneath.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   This mushroom has pores instead of gills. The pores are small, angular, and yellowish, bruising bluish-green when handled.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   The stem is cylindrical, slender, and ranges from 4 to 8 cm in length and 0.5 to 1.5 cm in thickness. It is yellowish, often with reddish streaks or fibers, and lacks a ring.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   The flesh is yellowish, sometimes bruising slightly blue when cut, especially in the stem. It has a mild, pleasant taste and odor.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   The fruiting body of Xerocomellus chrysenteron is a bolete, characterized by a cap and a central stem. The cap is typically dry and velvety, with a cracked surface.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Xerocomellus chrysenteron is found in deciduous and mixed forests, often associated with oak and beech trees. It fruits from summer to autumn.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Dry, velvety, cracked

Growth Form

Solitary or scattered

Spore Print

Olive-brown

Body color

Olive-brown to reddish-brown

Odor

Mild

Flesh bruises

Slightly blue

Height

4-8 cm

Cap Diameter

3-10 cm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Pores, not gills
• Stem shape: Cylindrical
• Stem surface: Smooth to slightly fibrous
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Solid

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