PIONEER VALLEY MYCOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, mycology lessons, descriptions and photos of northeastern fungi by Dianna Smith & mycology articles by Bill Bakaitis
Leccinum versipelle has an orange cap with sterile overlapping marginal edge. Its pores are whitish and become brownish with maturity. The stipe is off-white with very dark scabers from its initial appearance onward. When cut in half, the whitish flesh turns reddish on the upper stem becoming purple-gray over time. It is mycorrhizal with oak, birch and poplar.(Most leccinums associate with a single tree species)..
Has a tendency to accumulate mercury, and must be cooked from 15 to 20 minutes to remove toxins. The entire mushroom turns black from cooking.