Ah, the Painted Boletes are becoming more frequent now. Hooray for Maine! They are some of the prettiest mushrooms out there, and that makes up for their average taste. Don’t get me wrong. They taste fine, but don’t expect a Chanterelle or Morel. Still, of the many Boletes out there, this is a fine one and isn’t slimy-feeling like most of them are. Painted Boletes usually grow together in large groups, although it’s not uncommon to see a loner here and there. I think the mycelium has been hard at work this year, so this Fall should be an interesting time for mushrooms. And where there are mushrooms, there are fairies!
Painted Boletes are easy to spot. They have a mottled, brick-colored cap over a
yellow base, and instead of gills, they have yellow pores. They often have a sort of cobweb-like veil
that protects the pores when the mushroom is younger, which usually breaks away
with age. Bugs seem to love the Painted Boletes, so if you are interested in gathering them, you must do so not too
long after they emerge. You will find
them under white pine trees because they have a symbiotic relationship with
these trees. The mushroom mycelium
receives carbohydrates and other nutrition from the white pine, and in return the
extended mycelial network delivers water and other minerals back to the tree.
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| Painted bolete (Suillus pictus). |
When you get your Painted Boletes home, do be sure to
positively identify them with several different books or websites. Take a tiny bite and chew it with your front
teeth without swallowing, and then spit it out.
Is it bitter or nasty-tasting?
Throw it out. A Painted Bolete is
not bitter. When you are sure that you have collected Painted Boletes, wipe any dirt off with a dry towel, but don’t rinse them in
water. Mushrooms should never be rinsed
in water unless they are absolutely caked in mud. Then go ahead and slice them up and fry them
in butter or whatever you like. Foraging
for wild food (also known as free food) is very satisfying!
(NOTE: This article
is for informational purposes only and is not a guide. Always identify mushrooms through several
sources. Some mushrooms are very
poisonous. When in doubt, throw it out!)
