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	Hi all I found three of these last Autumn, now I'm 99% sure what they are but the shape is different to other pictures I have seen. (I think it may b
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	Hi Can anyone please tell me what these are? I took one to do a spore print which was an off white-creamy colour at first but I left it for a few day
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Types of Edible and Poisonous Cep (Bolete or Porcini)

Because Ceps are probably one of the easiest and best fungi types to identify, I think they make a great way to help get confidence up for people who want to forage for the pot. They are also more abundant that you would think.

Note: Ceps really are best dried for cooking as sometimes they lack the flavour you may hope whereas drying will bring out more flavour when reconstituted in water.(unless they are king boletes which taste great fresh).

Below I have listed the main varieties and have also provided photos and information on what to look for in identification.

Because it is MORE important to fully know the poisonous ones BEFORE you study the edible ones, I will start with the baddies first. Never just study the edible ones and think you are safe - so many times a poisonous variety closely matches edibles varieties with nearly all types of fungi.

Just for clarification, a "Cep" is the same as a "Bolete" and "Boletus" and also "Porcini" - it is all the same thing.

Poisonous Ceps

Dotted Stem Bolete/Deceptive bolete

It is mainly found in the northern hemisphere so likely in the UK. It is usually called The Dotted

Stem Bolete and as you can see, looks very much like an edible cep/bolete. It is edible when cooked but it can cause gastric upset when raw and be confused with the poisonous Boletus

satanas, which has a paler cap.

Satans Bolete

This one is easy to spot - it has a red stem and when cut - changes a lurid blue.

Be warned... there are several edible Ceps that also change blueish colour when cut so do not use this as a rule of thumb.
There are several more - i will add to this list as I get photos.

If you have any good photos and info on poisonous ceps, Please email me with photos and information of poisonous ones you know and I will upload them nigel.frith "at" gmail.com

Edible Types of Cep

Bronzy Bolete

King Bolete

Pinewood Bolete

Spindle Stemmed Bolete

Cow Bolete

They are distinctive, yellow top - wide normally and has a sort of curl in it like a cows tongue would if it licked you! they have a slimey top normally. If you have a photo please email me at nigel.frith "at" gmail.com

- The cap is orange and is slimey
- The pores are light olive and not very close together
- The stem is very short and sometimes twisted a bit - it has fibres on it but not always obvious
- Spore colour is brownish olive
- It has a mycorrizhal relationship with pine trees and is usually found in sandy, acid soil.
- You will find them October/November.

I recently found lots in the New Forest and also Ludshott Common round by the pine woods although it is the 1st year I have seen them in such numbers at Ludshott. The ones in the New Forest were very big (7inches across)

Comments

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Posted By, Lucy Ball on November 23,2009

How many types of edible fungi are there in the UK?

Posted By, Wendy on August 28,2010

Is this mushroom is edible?

Posted By, grahame on September 5,2011

the orange colourd mushroom could be jack o lantern! DO NOT EAT! looks simular to the chanerelle, but it is not! chanterelles are found under broad leaf trees! happy foraging, kind regards grahame

Posted By, Tim Starkey on September 10,2011

Hello, Afet picking ceps du bordeaux recently in France, I have found small cep in my Staffordshire garden, within a few metres of a large pine tree. Just where the people in France told me to look. The smaller ones have a sliey top and the underside is ocre yellow just as per the cep du bordeaux, The small ones have small droplets of white liquid on the underside. Looking in the book, they appear to be the edible Boletus Granulatus O Kuntze????? But would welcome an experts opinion? Thank you

Posted By, fred parkinson on September 24,2011

this is a bay bolete you can check it agianst other pictures on the net

Posted By, tim starkey on September 24,2011

Thank you Fred..........is the bay bolete edible?????

Posted By, Tim Starkey on September 25,2011

Reading about the Bay Bolete, it has a thich stem and chesnut coloured cap. Just picked an old one from under our pine tree and they have a thin stem with very light brown cap which is slimey. Is this the bay bolete????

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Wild Mushroom Identification - Recommended Books for All Skill Levels:
Every amateur mycologist should have a decent library of books, here are the top five books I highly recommend for wild mushroom identification:

1) Field Guide to Edible Mushrooms of Britain and Europe - Great layout with superb images - Peter Jordan

2) Mushroom Picker's Foolproof Field Guide - A good all round book - Peter Jordan

3) The Mushroom Book - This one is a proper belter with loads and loads of good technical data - Thomas Laessoe

4) Complete Mushroom Book: The Quiet Hunt - A lovely book by a lovely man. Antonio Carluccio

5) The River Cottage Handbook - Mushrooms - Always a favourite from Hugh's fungi specialist friend, John Wright

It is important to have at least 3 books so you can cross reference and cover as many species as possible


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