# 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.

- **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.

## About

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,...

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/5dc16552-e484-46fa-9ddd-4675bf10f9c1
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/146681
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylopilus_plumbeoviolaceus
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/411037323/medium.jpeg ((c) Michael J. Papay，保留部分权利（CC BY）, 由 Michael J. Papay 上传, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.