Leccinum scabrum

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***Leccinum scabrum***, commonly known as the **rough-stemmed bolete**, **scaber stalk**, and **birch bolete**, is an edible mushroom in the family Boletaceae, and was formerly classified as *Boletus scaber*. The birch bolete is widespread in Europe, in the Himalayas in Asia, and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring only in mycorrhizal association with birch trees. It fruits from June to October. This mushroom is also becoming increasingly common in Australia and New Zealand where it is likely introduced.

## Description

The cap is Template:Convert wide. At first, it is hemispherical, and later becomes flatter. The skin of the cap is light gray-brown to reddish gray-brown, later often more or less brown, smooth, bald, dry, and rather slimy when damp.

The pores are white at a young age, later gray. In older specimens, the pores on the pileus can bulge out, while around the stipe they dent in strongly. The pore covering is easy to remove from the skin of the pileus.

The stipe is Template:Convert long and Template:Convert wide, slim, with white and dark to black flakes, and tapers upward. The basic mycelium is white.

The flesh is whitish, later more gray-white and does not change color when broken. In young specimens, the meat is relatively firm, but it very soon becomes spongy and holds water, especially in rainy weather. When cooked, the meat of the birch bolete turns black.

*Leccinum scabrum* has been found in association with ornamental birch trees planted outside of its native range, such as in California.

## Similar species

 File:Leccinum scabrum JPG7.jpg
 File:Bolet rude.jpg
Several different species of *Leccinum* mushrooms are found in mycorrhiza with birches, and can be confused by amateurs and mycologists alike. *L. variicolor* has a bluish stipe. *L. oxydabile* has firmer, pinkish flesh and a different pileus skin structure. *L. melaneum* is darker in color and has yellowish hues under the skin of the pileus and stipe. *L. holopus* is paler and whitish in all parts.

## Habitat and distribution

*Leccinum scabrum* is a European species that has been introduced to various areas of the world. In New Zealand, it associates solely with *Betula pendula*.

## Uses

The birch bolete is edible and is especially enjoyable pickled in brine or vinegar. It is used also in mixed mushroom dishes, fried or steamed.

It is commonly harvested for food in Finland.

A few reports in North America (New England and the Rocky Mountains) after 2009 suggest that leccinums (birch boletes) should only be consumed with much caution.

## See also

* List of *Leccinum* species
* List of North American boletes

## References

1. ↑ Template:Cite book
2. ↑ Template:Cite book
3. ↑ *Leccinum scabrum*. California Fungi. Retrieved on October 18, 2009.
4. ↑ Template:Cite journal Template:Open access
5. ↑ Template:Cite journal
6. ↑ Bakaitis, Bill. *Diagnosis at a Distance*. Retrieved on November 28, 2011.
7. ↑ Land, Leslie. *Wild Mushroom Warning: The Scaber Stalks (Leccinum species) May No Longer Be Considered Safe*. Retrieved on July 18, 2009.

* Kallenbach: *Die Röhrlinge (Boletaceae)*, Leipzig, Klinkhardt, (1940–42)
* Gerhardt, Ewald: *Pilze. Band 2: Röhrlinge, Porlinge, Bauchpilze, Schlauchpilze und andere*, (Spektrum der Natur BLV Intensiv), (1985)

## External links

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* Template:IndexFungorum
* Template:De icon Pilzgalerie: Leccinum scabrum (Birkenpilz)

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