Xerocomellus diffractus

Xerocomellus diffractus, commonly known as the cracked-cap bolete, is a species of mushroom in the family Boletaceae. It is found in western North America.

Taxonomy

Xerocomellus diffractus was first unofficially described by Noah Siegel, Christian Schwarz, and Jonathan L. Frank in the book Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast in 2016. Back then, the name was provisional. It was later formally described by Frank as a separate species in 2020.

Description

The cap is brownish and wide. It develops cracks as it gets older. The cracks start out pale to whitish, and turn pinkish as the mushroom gets older. The stipe is tall and wide. The flesh is whitish in the cap, yellow in the stem, and stains blue. The spore print is olive brown.
Xerocomellus diffractus sometimes slowly bruises blue.

Similar species

Xerocomellus diffractus can be confused with several other species of mushrooms, including X. amylosporus, X. mendocinensis, X. salicola, X. rainisiae, and X. chrysenteron. However, X. amylosporus, X. mendocinensis, X. salicola, and X. rasisiae bruise blue quicker and more intensely, and X. chrysenteron is found in Europe.

Habitat and ecology

Xerocomellus diffractus is a mycorrhizal fungus, found growing under trees. Grow solitary or scattered in troops under both conifers and hardwoods. Fruiting in fall and early winter, or occasionally in spring on the California and Oregon coast, and summer in the Southwest, and at higher elevations.