Boletus edulis
Boletus edulis (English: cep, penny bun, porcino or porcini) is a basidiomycete fungus, and the type species of the genus "Boletus". Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere across Europe, Asia, and North America, it does not occur naturally in the Southern Hemisphere, although it has been introduced to southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. Several closely related European mushrooms formerly thought to be varieties or forms of "B. edulis" have been shown using molecular phylogenetic analysis to be distinct species, and others previously classed as separate species are with this species. The western North American species commonly known as the California king bolete ("Boletus edulis" var. "grandedulis") is a large, darker-coloured variant first formally identified in 2007.

The fungus grows in deciduous and coniferous forests and tree plantations, forming symbiotic ectomycorrhizal associations with living trees by enveloping the tree's underground roots with sheaths of fungal tissue. The fungus produces spore-bearing fruit bodies above ground in summer and autumn. The fruit body has a large brown cap which on occasion can reach , rarely in diameter and in weight. Like other boletes, it has tubes extending downward from the underside of the cap, rather than gills; spores escape at maturity through the tube openings, or pores. The pore surface of the "B. edulis" fruit body is whitish when young, but ages to a greenish-yellow. The stout stipe, or stem, is white or yellowish in colour, up to , rarely tall and thick, and partially covered with a raised network pattern, or .

Prized as an ingredient in various culinary dishes, "B. edulis" is an edible mushroom held in high regard in many cuisines, and is commonly prepared and eaten in soups, pasta, or risotto. The mushroom is low in fat and digestible carbohydrates, and high in protein, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. Although it is sold commercially, it is very difficult to cultivate. Available fresh in autumn in Central, Southern and Northern Europe, it is most often dried, packaged and distributed worldwide. It keeps its flavour after drying, and it is then reconstituted and used in cooking. "B. edulis" is one of the few fungi sold pickled.
Q174698
basidiomycete
Concept
Q252730
type species
Concept
Q19744
Boletus
Concept
Q39061
Northern Hemisphere
TIME
Q1065449
introduced
Concept
Q767728
varieties
Concept
Q279749
forms
Concept
Q2007033
molecular phylogenetic
Concept
Q1131316
deciduous
Concept
Q132825
coniferous forest
MISC
Q188913
plantation
Concept
Q121610
symbiotic
Concept
Q99974
ectomycorrhizal
Concept
Q177332
spore
Concept
Q3821040
fruit bodies
Concept
Q694118
cap
Concept
Q1969349
bolete
UNK
Q694131
stipe
Concept
Q654236
edible mushroom
Concept
Q208105
risotto
Concept
Q127980
fat
Concept
Q11358
carbohydrate
Concept
Q21296145
protein
Concept
Q34956
vitamin
Concept
Q189598
mineral
Concept
Q215210
dietary fibre
Concept
Q27509
Central
LOC
Q27449
Southern
LOC
Q27479
Northern Europe
Concept
Q19740
Boletus edulis
Concept
Q19740
Boletus edulis
Concept
2007-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
2007
DATE
parent taxon
taxonomic type