Chrome-Footed Bolete

The chrome-footed bolete (Xerocomus chrysenteron), sometimes treated as synonymous with Boletus chrysenteron, is a bolete mushroom in the family Boletaceae or Xerocomaceae, depending on the classification system applied. The genus Xerocomus has been subject to significant taxonomic revision in recent decades as molecular phylogenetic analyses have reshaped the boundaries of bolete genera. Species in Xerocomus are generally characterized by dry, often velvety caps, yellow to reddish stipes, and a tendency for cut flesh to stain blue. They form ectomycorrhizal relationships with deciduous and coniferous trees, contributing to the nutrient and water uptake capacity of their host trees. Xerocomus chrysenteron is found in temperate forests of Europe and has been recorded in similar forest types elsewhere, fruiting in summer and autumn. The cap often develops characteristic cracks revealing reddish flesh beneath an olive-brown surface. While edible, the species is considered inferior in quality to many other boletes, with soft flesh that deteriorates quickly. It is common and widespread with no conservation concerns of note. Taxonomic uncertainty surrounding the species complex has led to some confusion in identification, and multiple closely related species are now recognized within the broader Xerocomus group.