Fungus
Burnt-orange Bolete
Tylopilus ballouiAlso known as Ballou's Bolete
Burnt-orange boletes light up the forest floor with vibrant apricot to reddish-orange caps that contrast sharply with pale cream or yellowish pore surfaces. They form intimate mycorrhizal associations with mature hardwoods, trading soil minerals for host-derived sugars under oaks and beeches. As the fruit body ages, the bright velvety cap typically fades to an ochre-brown, while bruised pores slowly discolor to rich cinnamon.
FungusMycorrhizalForest Floor
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyMycorrhizal nutrition via host tree root symbiosis
Predators
- Fungus gnat larvae
- Gastropods (slugs and snails)
- Small woodland rodents
ThreatsDeforestation, host tree decline, and heavy soil compaction
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed woodlands, particularly near oak, beech, and pine
Life spanFruit body persists 4–10 days; mycelial network lives for decades
Classification
- OrderBoletales
- FamilyBoletaceae
- GenusTylopilus
- SpeciesTylopilus balloui
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- 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
- Cap Observation: Examine the velvety cap texture and vibrant apricot tint without disturbing the soil.
- Pore Surface Check: Note how the whitish to buff pores stain slowly when gently touched.
- Habitat Inspection: Look around the base of nearby oaks and beech trees to spot mycorrhizal connections.
Host Plant (c) Alicia Ballard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Ecological Companion (c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Davide Puddu · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Daniel Ghyselinck, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Ghyselinck · cc-by
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