fungi · GBIF taxon 9225326
Old Man of the Woods
Strobilomyces strobilaceusAlso known as Pinecone Bolete, Shaggy Bolete
Old Man of the Woods is a distinctive bolete easily recognized by its dark, woolly, charcoal-grey scales that cover the cap like a shaggy carpet. When bruised or cut, the whitish flesh undergoes a dramatic color shift, turning pinkish-red before slowly darkening to a deep soot-black. This mycorrhizal fungus plays a vital role in forest ecosystems, forming mutually beneficial partnerships with the roots of hardwood trees, particularly oaks and beeches.
MycorrhizalForest DwellerDistinctive Scales
1 / 7- diet
- Mycorrhizal (nutrients from host tree roots)
- family
- Boletaceae
- threats
- Habitat loss, soil compaction, and clear-cutting of mature hardwood forests
- life Span
- Mycelium lives for decades; individual fruiting bodies last 1 to 2 weeks
NE
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Check the pores: Look underneath the cap to find a greyish pore surface instead of the typical gills found on most mushrooms.
- Observe the color change: Gently scratch the pore surface or slice the stem to watch the white flesh blush red and then turn black.
- Inspect the cap texture: Run your fingers over the cap to feel the soft, woolly, pinecone-like scales that give this fungus its name.