Boletus pseudoregius
Boletus pseudoregius
Boletus pseudoregius (Boletus regius Hubert.) Is an edible symbiotic mushroom from the Boletaceae family.
Systematics –
From the systematic point of view it belongs to the Domain Eukaryota, Kingdom Fungi, Basidiomycota Division, Class Basidiomycetes, Order Boletales, Family Boletaceae and then to the genus Boletus and to the species B. pseudoregius.
The term Butyriboletus pseudoregius (Heinr. Huber), D. Arora & J.L. Frank.
Etymology –
The term Boletus is of controversial etymology: as it derives from the Greek βωλήτης bolétes, with which the Greeks called a kind of mushroom (from βωλος bólos with the meaning of gleba, clod, bush, because growing among the clods or bushy places); others instead believe that the meaning of βωλος is to be extended to the ball, since the hat of most mushrooms is globose; for some authors it derives from Bolites name with which the Romans indicated the best edible mushrooms, although originally referred to only the ova (Amanita cesarea), but soon used to call also porcini. The specific epithet pseudoregius comes from the Latin regius, royal, and from the Greek ψευδο, that is false, since it is exchangeable with the previous one.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Boletus pseudoregius is a rare fungus that grows under broad-leaved trees, especially beech and chestnut.
Recognition –
This mushroom is recognized for the 5-15 cm diameter hat, fleshy, hemispheric and then flat and convex, with a dry cuticle, felted with an antique pink color – brownish pink. The pores are round, small, yellow-gold, turning blue to pressure. The tubules are long, yellow in color, then green-olive, turning to blue. The stem can have a diameter of 4-5 cm in diameter, cylindrical, slender but sometimes stocky, of yellowish color, pinkish area in the lower third, turning to blue, covered up to half with a concoloured pattern. The meat is firm, hard and turning to blue to the cut, with a fruity smell and a pleasant and sweetish taste. Under the microscope there are fusiform spores, brown-olive in mass of 12.5-17.5 x 3.5-5 μm.
Cultivation –
Boletus pseudoregius is not a cultivated mushroom.
Uses and Traditions –
It is a fungus not very common and excellent edibility; nevertheless, because of its relative rarity it should not be collected, preferring and exhorting to leave it in its niche of growth, also because very beautiful to admire for its colors and in its habitat.
Preparation Mode –
Boletus pseudoregius has an edibility very similar to the most known edible bolete. It can be prepared and stored in the same way as these but, we repeat, it would be better not to collect it and leave it undisturbed in its habitat.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Cetto B., 2008. Real mushrooms, Saturnia, Trento.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (edited by), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only and do not in any way represent a medical prescription; there is therefore no liability for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.