Ruby Bolete
Hortiboletus rubellus
When the flesh of this mushroom is cut, exposure to oxygen causes a chemical reaction that turns its golden interior a vivid blue within seconds.
- Scientific name
- Hortiboletus rubellus
- Taxonomy
- Fungi › Basidiomycota › Agaricomycetes › Boletales › Boletaceae › Hortiboletus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous woodlands, grassy parks, and gardens, typically under oak, beech, or linden trees.
- Diet
- Mycorrhizal partner, exchanging soil nutrients and water for sugars from host tree roots.
- Range
- Europe, North America, Asia, Australia
- Size
- Cap diameter 3-10 cm; stem height 4-10 cm.
- Lifespan
- The underground mycelium can live for decades, while the above-ground mushroom lasts 7 to 14 days.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Soil compaction, heavy foot traffic, and the removal of leaf litter and host trees.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch. If observing, note the red cap and yellow pores that bruise blue. Do not consume wild mushrooms unless verified by an expert mycologist, as lookalikes can cause severe stomach upset.
Hortiboletus rubellus , commonly known as the ruby bolete , is a small, dainty, brightly coloured member of the family Boletaceae, with a reddish cap and stipe, and yellow pores. Like many boletes, it stains blue when cut or bruised. It is found in deciduous woodland in autumn. There is some question over its edibility, and it is reportedly of poor quality with a taste of soap. Until 2015, the species was known as Boletus rubellus .
Photo: Strobilomyces, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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