Violet Gray Bolete
Tylopilus plumbeoviolaceus
Its intense, tongue-numbing bitterness is a chemical defense that persists even after extensive cooking, capable of ruining an entire dish with a single cap.
- Scientific name
- Tylopilus plumbeoviolaceus
- Taxonomy
- Fungi › Basidiomycota › Agaricomycetes › Boletales › Boletaceae › Tylopilus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous and mixed forests, primarily associating with oak and beech trees.
- Diet
- Mycorrhizal partner, exchanging soil nutrients for host tree sugars.
- Range
- Eastern North America, Central America
- Size
- Cap 4 to 15 cm wide; stem 5 to 13 cm tall.
- Lifespan
- The underground mycelium can live for decades, while the visible mushroom cap lasts only 7 to 14 days.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Deforestation, loss of mature oak hosts, and heavy soil compaction from off-trail foot traffic.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch and safe to observe at any distance. However, it is extremely bitter and inedible; do not consume. If accidentally ingested, monitor for mild gastrointestinal distress and consult a medical professional if symptoms occur.
Tylopilus plumbeoviolaceus (formerly Boletus plumbeoviolaceus ), commonly known as the violet-grey bolete , is a fungus of the bolete family. First described in 1936, the mushroom has a disjunct distribution, and is distributed in eastern North America and Korea. The fruit bodies of the fungus are violet when young, but fade into a chocolate brown color when mature. They are solid and relatively large—cap diameter up to 15 cm (5.9 in), with a white pore surface that later turns pink,...
Photo: (c) Michael J. Papay，保留部分权利（CC BY）, 由 Michael J. Papay 上传, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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