Fungus · GBIF taxon 5954958
King Bolete
Boletus edulisAlso known as Penny Bun, Porcini, Cep, Steinpilz
King boletes form symbiotic mycorrhizal partnerships with coniferous and deciduous trees, anchoring themselves deep in forest floor soils. Their massive brownish caps expand dramatically after heavy rains, supported by thick, swollen stalks covered in fine reticulated netting patterns. Spores disperse on forest breezes, establishing underground mycelial networks that sustain surrounding tree health for decades.
FungusForestMycorrhizal
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Tree root carbohydrates
- Soil minerals
Predators
- Fungus Gnats
- Slugs
- Red Squirrels
ThreatsHabitat loss, soil compaction, atmospheric pollution
HabitatsConiferous, deciduous, and mixed temperate forests
Life spanFruiting body lasts 1 to 2 weeks; underground mycelium lives decades
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderBoletales
- FamilyBoletaceae
- GenusBoletus
- SpeciesBoletus edulis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never ingest any wild fungus based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Stem Identification: Look for a fine white raised netting pattern near the top of the stalk.
- Spore Prints: Place the cap underside down on paper overnight to observe an olive-brown spore deposit.
Look-Alike (c) Daniel Ghyselinck, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Ghyselinck · cc-by
Toxic Look-Alike (c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Davide Puddu · cc-by
Symbiont Host (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · cc-by
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