Xerocomus

Xerocomus is a genus of poroid fungi related to Boletus. Many mycologists did not originally recognize the distinction between the two genera and placed Xerocomus taxa in genus Boletus. However, several molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that Xerocomus is a heterogeneous genus of polyphyletic origin,[1] which has resulted in further division of Xerocomus into Xerocomellus and Hemileccinum.[2] The members of the genus Xerocomellus are more closely related to Boletus than true Xerocomus is, which is relatively distantly related to Boletus and more closely related to Phylloporus. Other former Xerocomus species have since been moved to Aureoboletus, Imleria, Hortiboletus and Rheubarbariboletus.[3][4][5]

Xerocomus
Xerocomus subtomentosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain:Eukaryota
Kingdom:Fungi
Division:Basidiomycota
Class:Agaricomycetes
Order:Boletales
Family:Boletaceae
Genus:Xerocomus
Quél. (1887)
Type species
Xerocomus subtomentosus
(L.) Quél. (1888)

Ladurner and Simonini published a monograph on Xerocomus in 2003,[6] but this predated the taxonomical revisions based on phylogenetic inferences. In 2008, Hills included 18 species found in Britain, not including some species sometimes treated as Xerocomus, and including Boletus pulverulentus and Boletus impolitus.,[7] currently placed in genera Cyanoboletus and Hemileccinum, respectively. More recent phylogenies have confirmed Xerocomus as monophyletic in its new restricted arrangement.[8]

Most members of Xerocomus are edible, though of mediocre gastronomical value and inferior to the sought-after porcini.

Species

Description

Morphological features of xerocomoid boletes[2][19][20]"
Boletus s.str.HemileccinumXerocomellusXerocomus s.str.
Spore surfaceSmoothSmoothLongitudinally striated or smooth, never bacillateBacillate
Hymenophoral tramaBoletoid type with gelatinous lateral strataBoletoid type with gelatinous lateral strataIntermediate between boletoid and phylloporoid when fully developed with distinct but weakly gelatinous lateral strataPhylloporoid type with nongelatinous lateral strata
PileipellisTrichoderm, sometimes collapsing, rarely ixotrichoderm or otherInitially trichoderm but collapses with ageInitially palisadoderm, typically encrustedInitially a trichoderm, never encrusted
Lateral stipe stratumFrequently gelatinous, 60-90 μM thick, thicker than that of XerocomellusSimilar to that of Leccinum species, ornamented with stipe scabrousities up to 400-640 μM thickFrequently not present, reduced to no more than 30-40 μM thick, not gelatinousLateral stipe stratum never gelatinous and 80-200 μM thick

References

  • Moncalvo JM, Vilgalys R, Redhead SA, Johnson JE, James TY, Catherine Aime M, Hofstetter V, Verduin SJ, Larsson E, Baroni TJ, Greg Thorn R, Jacobsson S, Clémençon H, Miller OK (June 2002). "One hundred and seventeen clades of euagarics". Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 23 (3): 357–400. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00027-1. PMID 12099793.