Red-capped scaber stalk Leccinum aurantiacum
edible
It lives with deciduous trees, mainly oaks, whereas the foxy bolete lives with pines. The strongest distinguishing feature is the tree partner. Also edible.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
The foxy bolete is a scaber stalk with a reddish-brown cap and a whitish, scaly stem. It is tied to pines and differs from the other red-capped scaber stalks mainly in its tree partner. Scaber stalks are considered edible.
SeasonJuly to October
Spore printyellowish olive to brownish
FamilyBoletaceae
- Cap. The cap is medium-sized to large and stays hemispherical for a long time, with an orange- to reddish-brown colour and a finely felty surface.
- Underside. The underside bears whitish to cream-grey tubes that are deeply notched where they join the stem and turn olive-tinged with age.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem is long, cylindrical to slightly club-shaped and covered with dark scales, as in all scaber stalks. There is no ring and no volva.
- Smell and taste. The smell is unremarkable, the taste mild.
- Flesh and colour change. When cut, the flesh shows colour changes, as in many scaber stalks. They are a hint for identification, but not a reliable feature.
Lookalikes
The foxy bolete is a scaber stalk with a reddish-brown cap and a scaly stem that grows near pines. All scaber stalks are considered edible, and the similar red-capped scaber stalks are too. Raw, they are not tolerated.
Leccinum piceinum
edibleIt occurs near spruce, whereas the foxy bolete occurs near pines. The strongest distinguishing feature is likewise the tree partner. Also edible.
Side by side
| Foxy bolete | Red-capped scaber stalk | Leccinum piceinum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cap | orange- to reddish brown, finely felty, long hemispherical | orange-red to reddish brown, finely felty | red to brown-orange, finely felty |
| Underside | whitish to cream-grey tubes | whitish to cream-grey tubes | whitish to cream-grey tubes |
| Stem | long, cylindrical, dark-scaled | white with dark scales | white with dark scales |
| Flesh | firm, softer with age | firm, spongy with age | firm, softer with age |
| Edibility | Edible | edible | edible |
Habitat & Season
Coniferous woods and pine plantations. No reliable information.
Host trees
Pine, mycorrhizal fungus.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Rough estimate; the fruiting time depends on the weather.
Mushroom regions with a daily forecast
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
Chance near you
How good are the chances of finding this species where you are right now? We calculate it from weather, soil moisture, altitude and forest at your location.
Safety
Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Only eat mushrooms you have identified beyond doubt, and always cook them thoroughly.
Advice for your country
Ireland
Poison centre:
National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166
Emergency: 112 · 999
Germany
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112
Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).
Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.
Austria
Poison centre:
Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43
Emergency: 112 · 144
Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.
Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.
Conservation and collecting rules
Not specially protected.
In the kitchen
Fried, stewed or in sauces. Use only young, firm mushrooms; older ones become soft. Cook for at least 15 minutes.
No reliable information on drying. Not tolerated raw.
- Never eat wild mushrooms raw, and always cook them for at least 15 minutes.
- Use only young, fresh, maggot-free mushrooms that you have identified with certainty.
- Carry mushrooms in an airy basket, not in plastic bags, and process them on the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the foxy bolete edible?
Yes, scaber stalks are considered edible. Like all wild mushrooms, the foxy bolete must be cooked thoroughly.
How do you recognise the foxy bolete?
By the reddish-brown cap, the whitish stem with dark scales and its growth near pines.
How does it differ from the red-capped scaber stalk?
Mainly by the tree partner: the red-capped scaber stalk grows near oaks, the foxy bolete near pines.
Related species
- Birch bolete Leccinum scabrum
- Hornbeam bolete Leccinum carpini
- Red-capped scaber stalk Leccinum aurantiacum
- Cep Boletus edulis
- Bay bolete Imleria badia
- Red cracking bolete Xerocomellus chrysenteron
Sources
- Wikipedia: Leccinum (Raufußröhrlinge)
- GBIF: Leccinum vulpinum Watling
- Index Fungorum: Namensabfrage Leccinum vulpinum
Photo credits
- Photo: kallne · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Red-capped scaber stalk: Photo: About field station from Russia, edited by Ak ccm · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.