Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 2524553

Mottled Bolete

Leccinum variicolor

Also known as Spotted Bolete, Variegated Bolete

Mottled Boletes fruit in late summer and autumn, forming obligate mycorrhizal partnerships almost exclusively with birch trees. They are especially prevalent in boggy, sphagnum-rich soils and damp heathlands where their mottled, dark greyish-brown caps blend seamlessly with wet leaf litter. When handled or bruised, the pale flesh at the base of the stem slowly turns a characteristic blue-green hue.

FungusMycorrhizalWoodland
Mottled Bolete reference1 / 7
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—observations
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—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Mycorrhizal
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Fungus gnats
  • Small rodents
ThreatsPeatland drainage, wetland degradation, and birch habitat loss
HabitatsPeat bogs, wet heathlands, and damp birch woodlands
Life spanFruiting body lasts 1–2 weeks; mycelium lives indefinitely
Classification
  1. FamilyBoletaceae
  2. SpeciesLeccinum variicolor
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Habitat Check: Search damp, mossy ground beneath birch trees, especially near peat bogs.
  • Flesh Reaction: Note whether the bruised stem base slowly stains blue-green to confirm identity.
Related species
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