This is probably my most common boletus find. It starts to show in the summer, sometimes as early as mid July, and goes strong all the way to late September. I find them always scattered, never in big groups and they seem to prefer sunny slopes. The literature states their association with hardwoods, especially oaks, but in my experience main habitat seems to be around beech trees, and they are frequently mixed with Russulas.
Name
Common names are Ornate-stalked bolete or Goldstalk. Recent literature moved this mushroom into Genus Retiboletus established in 2001, so in newer publication the name Retiboletus ornatipes is used. Earlier it was known as Boletus ornatipes.
Characteristics
- cap is up to 15cm in diameter, dry and velvety; color can be yellow, yellow brown or olive brown
- stalk is reticulated, has no ring and is more or less uniform over the whole length; tends to be elongated and twisted
- flesh is yellow and does not stain (no part of mushroom does)
- pore surface is bright yellow and darkens somewhat with age
- round pores are small, 2-3 per mm; tubes are up to 15 mm deep
Edibility
Despite checkered reviews on edibility in my opinion it is very decent edible. The literature mentions that some of the collections are very bitter, but I never had that experience yet. During cooking they maintain flesh integrity. Unfortunately yellow color almost immediately turns to black. They can be dried easily. I do plan to try and pickle them. Very good method of preservation is partly dried and preserved in oil.
This mushroom is quite bug resistant, but stems are frequently rotted and need to be discarded. The pronounced reticulation of the stem is one of the main identifiers.
From time to time mixed with this mushroom Boletus griseus can be found. This mushroom is very similar, but less yellow with more of the grayish tones present. Fortunately it is also edible, so presents no mix up danger.