| Leccinum manzanitae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Boletales |
| Family: | Boletaceae |
| Genus: | Leccinum |
| Species: | L. manzanitae |
| Binomial name | |
| Leccinum manzanitae Thiers |
|
| Leccinum manzanitae | |
|---|---|
| Mycological characteristics | |
| pores on hymenium | |
| cap is convex | |
| hymenium is adnate | |
| stipe is bare | |
| spore print is brown | |
| ecology is mycorrhizal | |
| edibility: choice | |
Leccinum manzanitae is an edible species of fungus in the Boletaceae family of mushrooms. Commonly known as the Manzanita bolete for its association with Manzanita trees, it is recognized by its reddish to brown cap and tough stem with small black scales known as scabers.
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This species was first described by American mycologist Harry Delbert Thiers in 1971. In California, it is known locally as the manzanita bolete due to its close association with manzanita trees.[1]
The cap is 7–20 cm (2.8–7.9 in) in diameter, spherical to convex when young, and broadly convex to flattened or cushion-shaped (pulvinate).[2] The cap surface is often shallowly to deeply pitted or reticulate, sticky, and covered with pressed-down hairs that are more conspicuous toward the edge of the cap. The cap color is dark orange to red during all stages of development, but may be partially or completely pale to white if unexposed to sunlight. The flesh is 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) thick, white when first exposed, but slowly and irregularly changing to dark brownish-gray with no reddish intermediate state. The change in color upon bruising or injury is often more pronounced in young specimens. The tubes are 1–2.5 cm (0.4–1.0 in) long, with an adnate attachment to the stem; their color is pale olive when young, which darkens when bruised. The pores are up to 1 mm in diameter, angular, and the same color as the tubes. The stem is 10–16 cm (3.9–6.3 in) long, and 1.5–3.5 cm (0.6–1.4 in) thick at the apex, and either club-shaped or swollen in the middle. It is solid, with a dry surface, and covered with conspicuous scales or fibrils. The stem scales are usually pallid when young, but dark to near dark brownish-grey with age. The flesh is white, slowly staining dark brownish-gray in the upper portion when exposed, sometimes staining blue close to the base. The spore print is cinnamon-brown.[1]
The spores are 13–17 by 4–5.5 µm, fusoid to subellipsoid to subcylindrical; walls smooth and moderately thick. The spore-bearing cells, the basidia, are 27–32 by 6–9 µm, club-shaped to pyriform and 4-spored. The cystidia comprising the hymenium are 23–32 by 4–6 µm, fusoid to club-shaped with narrow, elongated apices. Clamp connections are absent in the hyphae of this species.[1]
Thiers also described the variant species L. manzanitae var. angustisporae which has spores that are smaller, typically 3–4 µm wide and 1–2 µm longer.[1]
Leccinum ponderosum also has a dark red viscid cap, but its flesh does not darken upon exposure, and the cap is smooth when young.[1] Leccinum armeniacum also associates with manzanita and madrone, but its cap is more orange.[3]
Leccinum manzanitae grows solitary to scattered in soil under madrone and manzanita. In North America, it is commonly found from Central California to southern Oregon.[3]
Leccinum manzanitae is edible, and rated highly by some,[2] although others have described the flavor as bland.[3] Drying the mushroom may improve the flavor.[3][4]