Rheubarbariboletus armeniacus

Rheubarbariboletus armeniacus is a small mushroom in the family Boletaceae native to Europe. It was formerly placed in the genera Boletus, Xerocomus, and Xerocomellus. It acquired its current name when it was transferred to genus Rheubarbariboletus in 2015.

Rheubarbariboletus armeniacus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Boletales
Family:	Boletaceae
Genus:	Rheubarbariboletus
Species:	R. armeniacus
Binomial name
Rheubarbariboletus armeniacus (Quél.) Vizzini, Simonini & Gelardi (2015)
Synonyms
Boletus armeniacus Quél. (1885) Xerocomus armeniacus (Quél.) Quél. (1888) Xerocomellus armeniacus (Quél.) Šutara (2008)

Taxonomy

French naturalist Lucien Quélet described this species as Boletus armeniacus in 1885,[1] before placing it in the genus Xerocomus in his 1888 work Flore mycologique de la France et des pays limitrophes (Mycological flora of France and neighbouring countries).[2]

It was transferred to the new genus Xerocomellus described by Czech mycologist Josef Šutara in 2008,[3] and then to Rheubarbariboletus in 2015.[4]

Description

Fruiting in Monte Arci, Sardinia, Italy

The cap is initially globular before expanding to become convex and flattening somewhat; it grows to a diameter of 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in). The cap margin initially adheres to the stipe and has a tendency to become lobed or undulated in age. The cap surface is first somewhat pubescent but later becomes smooth and hairless, and may develop cracks in age. Its color is orangish-apricot, aging to ochre. Tubes are initially pale yellow, but become more vivid in age, and eventually develop greenish-yellow to greenish-olive tones. They will become pale blue upon with bruising. The pores are circular or a bit angular, with the same coloring and bruising reaction as the tubes. The robust stipe measures 3–8 cm (1.2–3.1 in) long by 0.5–1.5 cm (0.2–0.6 in) thick. It is usually thicker in the middle or lower region, and its base roots into the substrate. The top part of the stipe is yellow; under this the coloration tends to be masked by a dense and fine reticulation that becomes brown to brownish-crimson in age. In some specimens the stipe cuticle cracks and pointed patches lift from the surface. The flesh is pale yellow in the cap, with a narrow strip of pinkish-yellow under the cuticle; in the stipe, the flesh is orange-ochre, with a reddish tint. The flesh sometimes shows a slight and temporary color change to blue when cut or otherwise injured, but this feature is not consistent. It has a pleasant odor and a fruity-acid taste.[5]

Spores are fusiform (spindle shaped), measuring 10–15 by 4.5–6 µm. The basidia (spore-bearing cells) are club-shaped, four-spored, and contain internal oil droplets; they measure 28–35 by 9–12 µm. The cystidia are fusiform, hyaline (translucent), and 40–55 by 9–12 µm.[5]

Ecology

It has been recorded forming ectomycorrhizal association with white poplar (Populus alba) in Hungary.[6] Its ectomycorrhizae contain bright yellow pigments, especially the rhizomorphs, and have warts on the outer surfaces of both the rhizomorphs and the mantle. The ectomycorrhizae of R. armeniacus cannot be reliably distinguished from those of Xerocomus subtomentosus.[7]

References

1. Quélet L. (1885). "Comptes Rendus de l´Association Française pour l´Avancement des Sciences" (in French). 13: 277–86. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. Quélet L. (1888). Flore mycologique de la France et des pays limitrophes (in French). Paris: Octave Doin. p. 419.
3. Šutara J. (2008). "Xerocomus s. l. in the light of the present state of knowledge" (PDF). Czech Mycology. 60 (1): 29–62.
4. Vizzini A. (26 June 2015). "Nomenclatural novelties" (PDF). Index Fungorum: 1. ISSN 2049-2375.
5. Alessio CL. (1985). Boletus Dill. ex L. (sensu lato) (in Italian). Saronno: Biella Giovanna. pp. 302–05.
6. Jakucs E. (2002). "Ectomycorrhizae of Populus alba L. in south Hungary" (PDF). Phyton (Horn, Austria). 42 (2): 199–210.
7. Palfner G, Agerer R. (1995). "Sind die Ektomykorrhizen von Xerocomus subtomentosus und X.armeniacus anatomisch unterscheidbar?" [Are the ectomycorrhizae of Xerocomus subtomentosus and X. armeniacus anatomically distinguishable?] (PDF). Zeitschrift für Mykologie (in German). 61 (1): 45–58.