Heimioporus betula (Shaggy Stalked Bolete)

August-September.  Heimioporus betula, the Shaggy Stalked Bolete, is probably

the easiest bolete to identify along the trail from the beach to the Old Fort in Fort Yargo State Park.

The dead give-away to identifying this species is the coarsely reticulated stalk. This photo shows a particularly pristine stem that becomes more 'shaggy' with age. The red color under the surface is also characteristic for this species.

Young specimens growing have caps barely wider than the stalk. When in deep shade their caps are deep orange. Specimens growing in open woods have a lighter orange-colored cap. In either case, the caps of young specimens are sticky. The caps usually enlarge to be wider than the stalk.

As they age, the caps become dry and start to lose their deeper orange color.

Ultimately, the caps become yellow-colored.

The pore surfaces of young caps are irregular with large angular pores, 1-2/mm.The pore surfaces don't bruise blue when damaged.

The pores become ragged as they age and discolored by olive to olive-brown spores.

The red color under the surface results from a ring of color immediately under the surface, that...

diffuses throughout the stalk with age. 

Shaggy stalked boletes may be solitary or scattered over a small area. It was unusual to find… 

this pair growing closely together. 

So far, I’ve only found most specimens in wooded areas between the beach and the Fishing Area. This year, I did find two small specimens just north of the Fishing Area, away form the main trail. 

Heimioporus betula has been reported only in North America. 

Related post:

Bolete Mushroom Season Is Here Again 

References:

Mushroom Expert: Heimioporus betula

Discover Life: Heimioporus betula