Fauna
Fungus

Summer Bolete

Boletus reticulatus

Also known as Summer Cep, Oak Bolete

Summer boletes form vital mycorrhizal partnerships with broadleaf trees, particularly oak and beech, exchanging soil nutrients for plant sugars. Appearing as early as late spring, their velvety pale brown caps often develop subtle cracks in dry weather while the pore surface shifts from cream to olive-yellow. A distinct, raised white network covers the upper portion of the sturdy stem.

FungusMycorrhizalForest
Summer Bolete reference1 / 7
(c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Davide Puddu · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMycorrhizal (symbiotic with broadleaf trees)
Predators
  • Fungus Beetle Larvae
  • Slugs
  • Squirrels
ThreatsHabitat loss, severe drought, soil compaction
HabitatsDeciduous forests, oak and beech woodlands
Life spanFruiting body lasts 1–2 weeks; underground mycelium lives for decades
Classification
  1. FamilyBoletaceae
  2. SpeciesBoletus reticulatus
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
  • Observing spores: Take a spore print on white paper to reveal the olive-brown deposit.
  • Inspecting the stem: Look closely at the upper stipe with a hand lens to view the delicate white mesh pattern.
  • Protecting mycelium: Avoid disturbing the leaf litter and root zone surrounding host trees.
Related species
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