Brown birch bolete (Leccinum scabrum)

Quick answers

Where to look?

Deciduous forest, Mixed forest

When does it appear?

Jun — Oct

Active months: June, July, August, September, October.

How to recognize it? Three signs

Cap color: Brown, Dark brown, Grey
Cap shape: Convex
Smell: Pleasant, mushroomy

Fruiting season

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

June – October

Description

The brown birch bolete (Leccinum scabrum) is a widespread edible mushroom that forms mycorrhiza exclusively with birch. You'll find it in birch groves, mixed forests with elm, and scrubland throughout the temperate zone of Eurasia.

It fruits from June to October, most abundantly in August–September. It isn't fussy about soil and grows both on dry ground and in damp spots near bogs.

Edible, but of middling culinary quality compared with the red-capped scaber stalk. With long cooking the flesh darkens to gray-black, which doesn't affect the taste but spoils the look of the dish. Best for drying.

Cap

Cap 5–15 cm across, at first spherical or hemispherical, later cushion-shaped. The surface is smooth or slightly wrinkled, dry or a little sticky in wet weather. Color ranges from grayish brown to dark brown, more rarely almost black.

Hymenophore

The hymenophore is tubular. The tubes and pores are white, small in young mushrooms and wider in mature ones. When pressed, the pores turn slightly brownish, but there's no intense bluing — this is how the brown birch bolete differs from the bluing red-capped scaber stalks.

Stem

Stem 8–18 cm tall, 1.5–3 cm thick, cylindrical, fairly long and slender compared with the cap. The surface is white or grayish, densely covered with dark, fibrous scales — the hallmark of the genus Leccinum. The stem is firm and fibrous.

Flesh

The flesh is firm and white; when cut it slowly darkens to grayish or almost black — especially in cooked mushrooms. The taste is mild and neutral. The cap skin doesn't peel.

Smell

The smell is unobtrusive, pleasant and typically mushroomy. The aroma intensifies with cooking. When dried, the brown birch bolete takes on a rich scent that falls short of porcini but is noticeably better than most other pored mushrooms.

Lookalikes

× Edible

Red-capped scaber stalk

Leccinum roseofractum

Leccinellum crocipodium

Mushrooms of the same genus and habitat — to study side by side and never mix up.

Bay bolete

Boletus badius

Edible

Pine bolete

Boletus pinophilus

Edible

Porcini

Boletus edulis

Edible

Summer bolete

Boletus reticulatus

Edible

Peppery bolete

Chalciporus piperatus

Inedible

Aureoboletus projectellus

Edible

Bronze bolete

Boletus aereus

Edible

Devil's bolete

Rubroboletus satanas

Poisonous

Frequently asked questions

Is Brown birch bolete edible or poisonous?

Brown birch bolete is edible. Before eating any wild mushroom, always double-check current information in reliable sources and consult an expert.

Does Brown birch bolete have gills or pores?

The spore-bearing surface (hymenophore) of Brown birch bolete: pored.

What does the cap of Brown birch bolete look like?

Cap 5–15 cm across, at first spherical or hemispherical, later cushion-shaped. The surface is smooth or slightly wrinkled, dry or a little sticky in wet weather. Color ranges from grayish brown to dark brown, more rarely almost black.

What does the stem of Brown birch bolete look like?

Stem 8–18 cm tall, 1.5–3 cm thick, cylindrical, fairly long and slender compared with the cap. The surface is white or grayish, densely covered with dark, fibrous scales — the hallmark of the genus Leccinum. The stem is firm and fibrous.

What do Brown birch bolete smell and taste like?

The smell is unobtrusive, pleasant and typically mushroomy. The aroma intensifies with cooking. Taste: mild.

Where does Brown birch bolete grow?

Typical habitats: Deciduous forest, Mixed forest.

Which trees does Brown birch bolete grow under?

Brown birch bolete usually grows near: Birch.

When should you pick Brown birch bolete?

It fruits in: June, July, August, September, October.

What can Brown birch bolete be confused with?

Brown birch bolete can be mistaken for: Red-capped scaber stalk, Bitter bolete, Ghost bolete, Boletus betulicola, Cornflower bolete, Orange birch bolete, Foxy bolete, Blushing bolete, Mottled bolete, Slate bolete, Leccinum melaneum, Saffron bolete, Orange oak bolete, Leccinum percandidum. Study the distinguishing features carefully — detailed comparisons are in the “Lookalikes” section.

How do you cook Brown birch bolete?

Brown birch bolete can be fried, boiled, pickled and dried. Before cooking, it's recommended to boil it for 10–15 minutes and drain the water.

Can you dry Brown birch bolete?

Yes, Brown birch bolete is well suited to drying and freezing. Dried mushrooms keep their aroma and work well in soups, sauces and fillings.

What is the scientific name of Brown birch bolete?

The Latin name is Leccinum scabrum. It belongs to the genus Leccinum, family Boletaceae.

Brown birch boleteLeccinum scabrum

Quick answers

Description