Boletus pallidus is quite common find in my area. It is never growing in big flashes, although many sources describe it as “growing gregariously”. I always find them single or in small groups, usually pairs. It is hardwood lover, especially oak and appears in summer and fall.

Name

As far as I know the common names are Pale bolete or Pallid bolete. This mushroom is still in genus Boletus and did not move around with new DNA based classification.

Characteristics

• • cap is up to 15 cm in diameter,

• • stalk is 10-25 mm thick,  more or less uniform over the whole length; stains brownish when handled

• • flesh is white and in my experience does not stain ( in literature brownish or even pinkish staining is listed)

• • pore surface is white or light yellow when young and turns greenish-yellow in maturity and in my experience always stains dark blue (literature lists not staining at all as possibility)

• spore print is olive-brown

Edibility

Mushroom is edible, but not really highly praised as “choice”. I usually dry them with very good results. They are quite bug resistant and only older specimens tend to be infested.

The cap is frequently covered with somewhat darker areas and seems to me that there is some pinkish tones present. The stem is brittle, fibrous and breaks easily. I usually discard it and don’t use it in the kitchen. For me if the cap is to soft and mushy, regardless of size, I do not pick it. I pick only nice and firm caps.