The chestnut Xerocomus and the bay bolete

Among the moss boletes and their close kin, there are two that foragers often mention in the same breath: Xerocomus ferrugineus (Xerocomus ferrugineus) and the bay bolete (Boletus badius). Both have brown-chestnut caps and love coniferous forests.

But the difference between them is noticeable, especially in taste. Let's look at how to tell them apart, why the bay bolete is valued much more highly and where to find both.

Xerocomus ferrugineus

Xerocomus ferrugineus is a close relative of the suede bolete, and the two are easy to mix up.

• Cap brownish chestnut, rusty brown, dry and velvety.
• Tube layer yellowish, with large pores.
• Stem even, thinner than the cap, with no net pattern.
• Flesh whitish or yellowish; when cut, it barely turns blue or turns blue only very slightly.

It differs from the suede bolete mainly by its darker, chestnut-colored cap. It's an edible mushroom, but like all moss boletes, its flesh is softer and watery.

Bay bolete

The bay bolete is noticeably more substantial. Many foragers don't count it among the moss boletes at all, because in taste and firmness it's closer to porcini.

• Cap chestnut-brown, dark brown, slightly slimy in wet weather, fairly large and fleshy.
• Tube layer yellowish green, turns blue when pressed.
• Stem thicker and sturdier than in moss boletes, brownish, with no net pattern.
• Flesh firm, whitish; when cut, it turns distinctly blue.

It's the firm, fleshy flesh and vivid blue bruising that set the bay bolete apart from the more modest moss boletes.

How they differ

In short, the difference is in size, firmness and taste.

• Size and flesh. The bay bolete is bigger and fleshier; Xerocomus ferrugineus is smaller and softer.
• Bruising. The bay bolete turns blue clearly and quickly; Xerocomus ferrugineus barely turns blue.
• Taste. The bay bolete is fragrant and firm, close to porcini; the moss bolete is more modest.

That's why the bay bolete is valued much more highly in the basket. But both are edible, and it's just as nice to come across either one.

Where and when to look for them

Both mushrooms love coniferous and mixed forests, especially pine forests.

• in coniferous forests and pine forests on mossy patches;
• in mixed forests, where pine grows alongside birch and oak;
• sometimes in deciduous forests, on forest edges and in clearings.

Their season runs from summer to late autumn. The bay bolete is especially good in autumn: it's firm, clean and stays sound for a long time while still growing.

As with all moss boletes, the only unpleasant lookalike is the fiery peppery bolete with reddish pores. To know when to head into the forest, check our mushroom radar: it shows when moisture and warmth line up well for mushrooms to appear.

Sources

• “Field Guide to the Fungi of Ukraine” (Kyiv, Naukova Dumka Publishing).
• Xerocomus ferrugineus on GBIF, a global biodiversity database.
• Imleria badia on MycoBank, an international fungal nomenclature database.
• Imleria badia on Wikipedia.