The Admirable Boletus Mushroom is also known as the velvet top mushroom. It has a semi-sweet, spicy aroma and a slightly milder taste than the king or red cap boletus mushroom. This mushroom grows all over Vancouver Island. Sometimes in the hundreds. It’s quite amazing to see them growing in such abundance and to take some home for the frying pan is wonderful.
The admirable boletus mushroom has a reddish-brown colour to it. Many small hairs roughen the upper surface of the cap. The Underside of the cap has a spongy layer that is yellow to greenish-yellow but does not bruise blue. The head can be more than 15 cm wide. The stalk is coloured like the cap and is often 10 cm or more tall. The stalk tapers as it grows and can be twice as big at the bottom. The spore print is dark olive to brown.
Unlike most other boletus that grow on the ground, the admirable boletus is often found growing on dead logs. They like to grow in conifer forests. This mushroom is delicious, and you can find it growing in all parts of Vancouver Island, and it is quite common. The small ones taste the best.
When you are out in the forest, searching for mushrooms, keep your eyes open, and you could see black bears, blacktail deer, roosevelt elk, or maybe one of the smaller creatures like pine martins, raccoons, squirrels, mice ( they love these mushrooms) that live here. Look up to see the various birds that bring such life to the forest, there are so many in the fall. Bring your camera and have a great day.