Pileus 3–6 in. broad. Stem 1.5–2.5 in. long, 6–12 lines thick.
Woods and copses. New York, Peck.
The blackish color of the pileus and stem distinguishes this species. From Boletus alboater Schw., the adnate, flesh-colored tubes will separate it. The surface of the pileus sometimes becomes cracked in areas. Peck, Boleti of the U.S.
Mt. Gretna, Pa., August, 1898. McIlvaine.
Another distinguishing mark from B. alboater is the velvety pileus of the latter. B. nigrellus is mild in taste and smell and an excellent species for the table.
B. eccen´tricus Pk.—eccentric. (Plate [CXVI], fig. 1, p. 420.) Pileus thick, firm, convex, irregular, glabrous, more or less lobed or wavy on the involute margin, gray or yellowish-gray. Flesh white, close-grained, elastic, unchangeable, taste and odor farinaceous. Tubes convex, depressed around the stem, not reaching the margin of the pileus, somewhat uneven and pitted on the surface, yellowish-brown, the mouths subangular, at first concolorous, becoming reddish or reddish-purple. Stem eccentric, tapering downward, solid, uneven with short irregular shallow grooves or obscure reticulations, tinged with red at the top, grayish below, tinged with red or purple within at the base.
Pileus 5–10 cm. broad. Stem 4–5 cm. long, 3–4 cm. thick at the top.
Sandy soil in grassy places in woods. Mt. Gretna, Pa. August and September.
The species is well marked by its eccentric stem, thick irregular pileus and the reddish or reddish-purple mouths of the mature tubes. Mr. McIlvaine remarks that when it is cooked it is delicate and savory. Peck, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, No. 27.
In commenting upon this new species to the writer, Professor Peck says: “I suspect that the spores of this (B. eccentricus) are pinkish or rosy. If so, it belongs here (in Hyporhodii). If not, it may have to go in the Luridi, or possibly may be made the type of a new tribe.”