Albatrellus flettii


Albatrellus flettii, commonly known as the blue-capped polypore, is a species of fungus in the family Albatrellaceae.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described in 1941 by Elizabeth Eaton Morse as Polyporus flettii, but this naming was invalid as it lacked a Latin description. Zdeněk Pouzar transferred it to Albatrellus in 1972.

Description

The bluish to tan caps are wide and often include a pattern of small cracks revealing the light flesh. There are 1–4 white pores per millimetre, staining reddish with age. The tubes are decurrent and up to 7 mm long. The stalk is up to 15 cm long and 4 cm thick, solid, pale in youth and ochraceous in age. The spore print is white.

Similar species

Similar species include the typically smaller Neoalbatrellus caeruleoporus and N. subcaeruleoporus, as well as Osteina obducta and members of Polyozellus.

Distribution and habitat

The species is found in western North America, where it grows on the ground in coniferous forests.

Uses

The species is edible, but is probably not choice.