Mushroom of the Month: July 2025, Phylloporus rhodoxanthus (Gilled Bolete)

Shot by Dave Webb

Unlike most boletes that bear pores, the Gilled Bolete sports true lamellae, pale to golden yellow “gills” that run down its stem. Phylloporus rhodoxanthus forms mycorrhizal partnerships with oak and beech, and its tender, nutty flesh makes it a tasty edible when abundant in midsummer and early fall.

Common Names: Gilled Bolete, Golden Gilled Bolete
Family: Boletaceae
Season: Summer & Fall (July – October)
Habitat: Deciduous forests under oak and beech, fruiting on the ground in leaf litter or humus-rich soils

Taxonomy & Nomenclature

• First Described: 1822 by Lewis David de Schweinitz as Agaricus rhodoxanthus

• Current Name: Transferred to Phylloporus by Giacomo Bresadola in 1900

• Etymology:

  • Phylloporus = Greek phyllon (“leaf”) + poros (“pore”), referring to leaf-like pores

  • rhodoxanthus = Greek rhodo (“rose-red”) + xanthos (“yellow”), describing its cap and hymenium coloration

Did You Know?
Although it bears gills, Phylloporus rhodoxanthus belongs to the Order Boletales and evolved lamellae independently of true agarics.

Morphology & Quick ID Guide

Shape: Cap 2.5-10 cm; convex, becoming broadly convex to more or less flat. Thick stipe tapering to base.
Color:  Cap dull red to reddish-brown or olive-brown; gills deep yellow to greenish yellow; stem yellow
Texture: Dry, fairly smooth, sometimes beginning to crack with age
Stipe: 4–10 cm long × 0.5–1.5 cm thick; solid, yellow, sometimes ribbed near apex; yellow mycelium at base
Spore Print:  Olivaceous yellow-brown
Microscopic: Spores smooth, elliptical to fusiform, 9–14 × 3.5–5 µm

Gilled Bolete Spores, Captured by Robert Solem

Shot by Sam Landes

Did You Know?
Two to six different gilled boletes occur in North America.

Ecology & Habitat

• Mycorrhizal: Forms symbiotic relationships with hardwoods, especially oak and beech roots.

• Growth Pattern: Solitary to scattered groups on the forest floor in deciduous woodlands.

• Seasonality: Fruits midsummer through early fall (July–October), often after warm, wet weather.

• Ecological Role: Plays a key part in nutrient exchange between soil and trees, enhancing forest health.

 Shot by Inaturalist user @matt_pulk

Geographic Distribution

• North America: Widespread east of the Rockies from the Gulf Coast through southern Canada; also reported in Belize.

• Taxonomic Notes: Historical Asian, European, and Australian records have since been reclassified as separate species

Shot by Inaturalist user @mebro

Edibility & Uses

• Edibility: Considered choice by many for its tender, nutty flavor; best sautéed, added to sauces or stuffings, or enjoyed raw as a colorful garnish.

• Drying: Enhances flavor concentration when mushrooms are dried before cooking.
• Dyeing: Occasionally used to produce beige to greenish-beige dyes with various mordants.

Shot by Inaturalist user Flown Kimmerling

Observing & Photographing Tips

1. Where to Look: Walk deciduous trails under oak and beech mid-summer to fall; scan humus-rich leaf litter.

2. Photography:

   • Macro lens or close-focus setting for gill detail.

   • Soft, diffused light to avoid harsh shadows on the cap’s velvety surface.

3. Community Science: Upload observations to iNaturalist to help track range shifts.

MCG foray Spring 2025 at E.M.B.A.R.C

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Intrigued by the Gilled Bolete?
Visit the Event Calendar and Register for our Spring Forays » to explore fungal wonders with the Mushroom Club of Georgia; learn field ID tips, meet fellow members, and help map exotic and native species across the state!

References:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylloporus_rhodoxanthus

• https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/130936-Phylloporus-rhodoxanthus

• https://www.mushroomexpert.com/phylloporus_rhodoxanthus.html

• https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/species/12330