Pileus 3–8 in. broad. Stem 2–3 in. long.
Woods. Rare. North Carolina, Curtis; New York, Peck; California, H. and M., N.J. Ellis.
Though mild to the taste, this Boletus is said to be very poisonous, a character suggestive of the specific name. Fries describes the color of the spores as earthy-yellow; Smith as rich brown. Peck, Boleti of the U.S.
West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, McIlvaine.
Boletus Satanus is sometimes plentiful in spots. Where it luxuriates it is a rich decoration to the ground, and earth upon upturned-roots upon which it often grows. It does not live long after reaching maturity, but decomposes into a putrescent mass.
Its reputation rivals that of the original possessor of its name. But old proverb sayeth that even “The Devil is not as black as he is painted.” See remarks heading [Luridi].
B. alveola´tus B. and C. Pileus convex, glabrous, shining, bright crimson or maroon-color, sometimes paler and varied with patches of yellow. Flesh firm, white, changing to blue where wounded. Tubes adnate, subdecurrent, yellow with maroon-colored mouths, the hymenial surface uneven with irregular alveolar depressions. Stem very rough with the margins of rather coarse subreticular depressions, the reticulations bright-red above with yellow stains. Spores yellowish-brown, 12.5–15×4–5µ.
Pileus 3–6 in. broad. Stem 3–4 in. long, 9 lines thick.
Damp woods. New England, Frost. Peck, Boleti of the U.S.
West Virginia mountains, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, in mixed woods and on banks of streams. McIlvaine.