Bitter Beech Bolete

Boletus calopus

Deciduous and coniferous forests, favours the vicinity of oaks and hornbeams. Summer, autumn.

Fruiting bodies rather stout, fleshy. Cap 10–15 cm across, grey, dirty brownish-grey, matt. Pores bright yellow, turning slightly blue when pressed. Stem up to 3 cm thick, yellow in the upper part, beautifully red lower down, with a net. Flesh yellowish, turning bluish when cut, with an unpleasant bitter taste. Characteristic features: stem with a yellow net in the upper part and a red net in the lower part. Grows singly. Inedible because of its bitter taste, but not poisonous. Found very rarely, protected. Beautiful, attractive.