Chalciporus
Pepper Boletus ( Chalciporus piperatus )
The dwarf boletes ( Chalciporus ) is a fungal genus in the family Dickröhrlingsverwandten ( Boletaceae ). They comprise in Europe half a dozen, mainly rare species. In contrast, the type species, the pepper Boletus (C. piperatus ), widespread and common.
Features
The dwarf boletes often form very small, 7-10 cm high fruit body with a 2-6 cm wide hat. The pores or tube mouths are dark colored orange to pink - reddish and rust. The yellowish, yellowish-white flesh has a reddish glow and displays on contact with atmospheric oxygen, no color reaction. It smells and tastes peppery sharp only at C. piperatus.
Ecology and phenology
The dwarf boletes prefer acidic soils ( coniferous or deciduous forests on sandstone ) and often come to forest or pasture edges individually or social ago.
They are found from summer to autumn.
Species
Worldwide, 25 species are known. In Europe, 6 species occur or are expected there:
Smallest Zwergröhrling Chalciporus pseudorubinus
Kurzsporiger Zwergröhrling Chalciporus rubinus
Artabgrenzung
Dwarf boletes, especially the pepper Boletus or even the bitter Zwergröhrling, can hardly be confused. The red to rust- red skin and stem color, the yellowish flesh and crisp flavor are distinctive features. Among themselves the boundary can turn out more difficult. Some authors see the bitter Zwergröhrling - wrongly - only a variety of the pepper - Röhrlings.
Importance
The dwarf boletes are edible. The Pepper Röhrling is incorrectly used by many collectors as a spice mushroom. But the pepper -like sharpness disappears during cooking.