| Boletales | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Boletus edulis | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Subclass: | Agaricomycetidae |
| Order: | Boletales E.-J.Gilbert (1931)[1] |
| Families | |
TheBoletales are an order ofAgaricomycetes containing over 1300 species with a diverse array offruiting body types. Theboletes are the best known members of this group, and until recently, the Boletales were thought to only contain boletes. The Boletales are now known to contain distinct groups ofagarics,puffballs, and other fruiting-body types.
The order Boletales originally was created to describe boletes, but based onmicromorphological andmolecular phylogenetic characteristics, a large number of nonbolete species have recently been reclassified to belong to this group, as well.[2] The order also includes some gilled mushrooms, in the familiesGomphidiaceae,Serpulaceae,Tapinellaceae,Hygrophoropsidaceae, andPaxillaceae, which often have the same flesh texture as the boletes, spore-bearing tissue which is also easily separable from the cap, and similar microscopic characteristics ofspores andcystidia. Taxonomic studies usingsecondary metabolites and latermolecular phylogenetic evidence moved several physically dissimilar groups into Boletales, including theSclerodermataceae (earthballs) and theRhizopogonaceae (false truffles).
Phylogenetic analyses shows theSclerodermataceae,Boletinellaceae andGyroporaceae appear to form a discrete group within the Boletales, and together with thePisolithaceae, and theAstraceae, are grouped under the suborderSclerodermatineae. Thus, the boletes ofBoletinellus andPhlebopus are more closely related toearthballs ofScleroderma than toBoletus.[3] Similarly, the bolete genusSuillus is more closely related to the agarics and false truffles ofChroogomphus,Gomphidius, andRhizopogon than toBoletus.[4]
In some older classification systems, a part of the familyBoletaceae was separated to form the family Strobilomycetaceae.[5][6] However, more recentmolecular genetics studies have found it to be an unnatural grouping.[7] According to the 2008 (10th) edition of theDictionary of the Fungi, the Boletales comprise 17families, 96genera, and 1316species.[8]
The Boletales are largelyectomycorrhizal fungi, hence are found mainly in or near woodlands. Certain species areparasitic rather than ectomycorrhizal. Members of the family Gomphidiaceae are thought to be parasitic upon members of the familySuillaceae; these relationships are often highly species-specific. Other parasitic boletes includedPseudoboletus parasiticus which grows onScleroderma citrinum.[9] A few species aresaprophytic andlignicolous, like those in the genusBuchwaldoboletus.[10]
Boletes are usually identified by having a sponge-like surface under the cap, instead of the usual gills. They occur in a variety of colours, such as red, white, brown and gray. Many of the inedible boletes are either white or red, and these should be avoided during picking.
The genusBoletus contains many edible species, most notably,B. edulis, includingB. aereus andB. pinophilus, though many others are eaten, as well, such asB. badius.B. edulis and its relatives are of great commercial importance in Europe and North America. Species ofSuillus are considered by many to be slimy and insipid; in Russia, though, they are often pickled and even sold commercially this way. In North America,S. pungens, known also as the "slippery jack," is said by some to be delicious cooked, provided the slimy coat of its cap is removed beforehand. Many boletes, while not toxic, are nonetheless bitter-tasting and inedible.
ThePaxillaceae contain a number of species that have been implicated in fatal poisonings. A few boletes are also highly toxic (though generally not deadly), notably the fairly conspicuousBoletus satanas and allies. Still, manymushroom hunters recommend that beginners start with boletes, since deadly mix-ups are far less likely than with agarics.
There are several genera classified in the Boletales that are i) poorly known, ii) have not been subjected to DNA analysis, or iii) if analysed phylogenetically do not group with as yet named or identified families, and have not been assigned to a specific family (i.e.,incertae sedis with respect to familial placement). These include:
