It is one of the best edible mushrooms. I have also found it in New Jersey.
Lu´ridi.
Stratum of tubes rounded toward the stem and free, their mouths at first closed and red. Pileus compact, then soft, cushion-shaped, the flesh juicy, changeable. Stem stout, at first short, bulbiform, then elongated and subequal, subreticulated or dotted.
Growing especially in frondose woods. Very poisonous.
In this tribe the tubes and their mouths are differently colored, the latter being red or some shade of red. By this character the species are easily distinguished from those of other tribes.
| Flesh distinctly changing color where wounded | 1 | |
| Flesh not at all or scarcely changing color where wounded | 7 | |
| 1. | Flesh white or whitish | 2 |
| 1. | Flesh yellow or yellowish | 5 |
| 2. Flesh changing to red or violet | B. Satanus | |
| 2. Flesh changing to blue | 3 | |
| 3. | Stem roughened | B. alveolatus |
| 3. | Stem even | 4 |
| 4. Stem hairy at the base | B. subvelutipes | |
| 4. Stem not hairy at the base | B. vermiculosus | |
| 5. | Stem red | B. luridus |
| 5. | Stem yellow or reddish only at the base | 6 |
| 6. Pileus purplish-red | B. purpureus | |
| 6. Pileus gray | B. firmus | |
| 6. Pileus yellow or yellowish | B. magnisporus | |
| 7. | Pileus blood-red | B. Frostii |
| 7. | Pileus reddish-tawny or brown | B. Sullivantii |
| Peck, Boleti of the U.S. |
All authors, up to this date, agree in stating that the species within this series are poisonous. Experiments made by Smiedeberg and Koppe with Boletus Satanus developed symptoms closely resembling poisoning by Amanitæ. Kobert, who made analysis of B. luridus, shows that it contains muscarine, which is one of the most deadly poisons. Such a mass of evidence commands respect. It is urged upon finders of these species to either leave them alone or test them in minute quantities until they have established their ability to eat them without injury.
I have taken special pains to establish the edibility of B. Satanus and B. luridus. For fifteen years I have eaten them in quantity when opportunity afforded, in West Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. My family, and my friends in widely separated localities, have partaken freely of them many times and without discomfort. They are remarkably fine eating. The same can be said of B. alveolatus, B. purpureus, B. subvelutipes. I have not seen the other species of this tribe.
I have determined so many of the reputed poisonous species to be edible, that unless positively authenticated, I do not accept repute as truth, but carefully test suspicious species upon myself. When sure there is no danger, I as carefully have them tested by my numerous under-tasters—male and female.
B. Sa´tanus Lenz.—Satanic. Pileus convex, glabrous, somewhat gluey, brownish-yellow or whitish. Flesh whitish, becoming reddish or violaceous where wounded. Tubes free, yellow, their mouths bright red becoming orange-colored with age. Stem thick, ovate-ventricose, marked above with red reticulations. Spores 12×5µ.