Introduction to Mushrooms Revised April 2000
by By Michael W. Beug Email: beugm@evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA
Slide 29.
Leccinum ponderosum is one of several orange-capped boletes with scabers on the stipe that give the stipe a rasp-like appearance and mark it unmistakably as a Leccinum. There are several difficult to distinguish orange-capped Leccinum species that I lump together as the Leccinum aurantiacum complex. The cap color is usually light to dark orange but can be almost white to a little pinkish. I used to consider all members of the Leccinum aurantiacum complex to be edible and choice. My favorite procedure was to sauté them until browned and then scramble is some eggs. They often turn an unappetizing gray-black on cooking, but the flavor is great. Recently there have been a number of reports of gastrointestinal distress coming from Colorado and Montana. I do not know whether they have a look-alike species that is not good to eat or have an unusually large number of individuals who cannot tolerate Leccinum species. The symptoms can be very severe vomiting with diarrhea. Individuals can be gassy, dizzy, stiff and sore. Recovery can sometimes take as long as 5 days. Most poisonings are from consuming raw mushrooms, but some come from cooked ones as well.
Previous
Slide