- Source: Xerocomellus diffractus
Xerocomellus diffractus, commonly known as the cracked-cap bolete, is a species of mushroom in the family Boletaceae. It is found in western North America.
Taxonomy
Xerocomellus diffractus was first unofficially described by Noah Siegel, Christian Schwarz, and Jonathan L. Frank in the book Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast in 2016. Back then, the name was provisional. It was later formally described by Frank as a separate species in 2020.
Description
The cap of Xerocomellus diffractus is brown, and about 1-4 inches across. It develops cracks as it gets older. The cracks start out pale to whitish, and turn pinkish as the mushroom gets older. The stipe is about 2-4 inches tall and 1-1.5 centimeters wide.
Xerocomellus diffractus sometimes slowly bruises blue.
= Similar species
=Xerocomellus diffractus can be confused with several other species of mushrooms, including Xerocomellus amylosporus, Xerocomellus mendocinensis, Xerocomellus salicola, Xerocomellus rainisiae, and Xerocomellus chrysenteron. However, X. amylosporus, X. mendocinensis, X. salicola, and X. rasisiae bruise blue quicker and more intensely, and X. chrysenteron is found in Europe.
Habitat and ecology
Xerocomellus diffractus is a mycorrhizal fungus, found growing under trees.
See also
List of North American Boletes