Xerocomellus chrysenteron

Template:Stack begin
Template:Taxobox
Template:Mycomorphbox
Template:Stack end

***Xerocomellus chrysenteron***, formerly known as ***Boletus chrysenteron*** or ***Xerocomus chrysenteron***, is a small, edible, wild mushroom in the family Boletaceae. These mushrooms have tubes and pores instead of gills beneath their caps. It is commonly known as the **red cracking bolete**.

## Taxonomy

This mushroom was first described and named as *Boletus communis* in 1789 by the eminent French botanist Jean Baptiste Francois Pierre Bulliard. Two years later in 1791 it was given the specific epithet *chrysenteron* by the same author. The species name coming from the Ancient Greek words *khrysos* "gold" and *enteron* "innards". Almost one hundred years later in 1888 Lucien Quelet placed it in the new genus *Xerocomus*, and retained the *chrysenteron* epithet. This binomial was generally accepted for almost another hundred years, until 1985 when Marcel Bon decided to resurrect the former specific epithet *communis*, which resulted in the binomial *Xerocomus communis*. It now resides back in the genus *Boletus*, and sports its 1791 binomial, and authority once again, and is currently known as *Boletus chrysenteron* Bull. Recent phylogenetic analysis supports the placement of *X. chrysenteron* as the type species of the new genus *Xerocomellus*, described by Šutara in 2008.

## Description

 File:Red Cracking Bolete (Boletus chrysenteron) spore print.JPG
 File:Boletus chrysenteron (Red Cracking Bolete).JPG
Young specimens of *X. chrysenteron* often have a dark, dry surface, and tomentose caps which might easily be mistaken for Bay Boletes *B. badius*. When fully expanded, caps are 4 to 10 cm (1.6–4 in) in diameter with very little substance and thin flesh that turns a blue color when slightly cut or bruised. Caps mature to convex and plane in old age. Cracks in the mature cap reveal a thin layer of light red flesh below the skin.
The 10 to 15 mm-diameter stems have no ring, are bright yellow and the lower part is covered in coral-red fibrils and has a constant elliptical to fusiform diameter throughout its length of 4 to 8 cm tall. The cream-colored stem flesh turns blue when cut.
*X. chrysenteron* has large, yellow, angular pores, and produces an olive brown spore print.

Fruit bodies of *Xerocomellus chrysenteron*  are also prone to infestation by the bolete eater (*Hypomyces chrysospermus*).

## Similarities within taxa

Macroscopic observation of *Xerocomellus chrysenteron* is not sufficient to determine this species with certainty, as many intermediate forms occur between it and other taxa; in particular, some forms of *B. pruinatus* and *Hortiboletus rubellus* are hardly distinguishable from *B. chrysenteron* without the aid of microscopic characters. *B. porosporus* is also similar to this species, but it is easily separated on account of the whitish under layer and truncate (chopped off) spores. Also this species is easily confused with *B. declivitatum*.

## Distribution and habitat

*Xerocomellus chrysenteron* grows singly or in small groups in hardwood/conifer woods from early fall to mid-winter. It is mycorrhizal with hardwood trees, often beech on well drained soils. It is frequent in parts of the northern temperate zones. The species has been recorded in Taiwan. It has been introduced to New Zealand, where it grows in groups under introduced deciduous trees.

This species may not be as common as once thought, having been often mistaken for the recently recognised *B.cisalpinus* Simonini, Ladurner & Peintner.

## Edibility

*Xerocomellus chrysenteron* is considered edible but not desirable due to bland flavor and soft texture. The pores are recommended to be removed immediately after mushrooms are picked as they rapidly decay. Young fungi are palatable and suitable for drying, but they become slimy when cooked; mature specimens are rather tasteless and decay quickly.

## Gallery

Xerocomus chrysenteron a1.jpgMaturing *Boletus chrysenteron*Bol.chrys.jpgShowing large yellow poresMold boletus chrysenteron rotfussroehrling.jpgMold growing on old boletus chrysenteronXerocomellus chrysenteron, Edible fungi in basket 2013 G1.jpgPicked *Xerocomellus chrysenteron* in basket

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Template:Cite book
2. ↑ Template:Cite book
3. ↑ Template:Cite journal
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Xerocomus chrysenteron. *First Nature*. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved on December 12, 2007.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Michael Wood & Fred Stevens (1996–2007). *Xerocomus chrysenteron*. *The Fungi of California*. Retrieved on December 12, 2007.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Template:Cite book
7. ↑ G. Bresadola (2005-05-02). Xerocomus chrysenteron. *Gruppo Micologico «G. Bresadola»*. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved on December 12, 2007.
8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Yeh 1980`
9. ↑ Template:Cite journal Template:Open access
10. ↑ Template:Cite book
11. ↑ Template:Cite book

## External links

* Template:IndexFungorum

Template:Commons category
Template:Wikispecies

* *Xerocomus chrysenteron*
* About: *Xerocomus chrysenteron* (Bull.) Quél.

Template:Taxonbar