Nordic mushrooms – get to know the species
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Mottled Bolete

Mottled Bolete

Leccinum variicolor
Edible
★★★☆☆
Taste rating: 3 out of 5

How to identify it

Cap
The cap is grey-brown to dark brown and often marbled or mottled in different brown-grey shades.
Underside
The pores are white to grey-white at first and become greyer with age.
Stem
The stem is whitish and covered with dark scales, often with distinct blue-green to blackish areas at the base.
Smell
Mild, earthy mushroom smell.

Occurrence and habitat

It grows mainly with birch, often in damp birch woodland and on mossy ground.

Look-alike species

These mushrooms can resemble Mottled Bolete. Look closely at features, habitat and images to see the differences.

Birch bolete
Birch bolete
Leccinum scabrum
★★★★★
Good edible mushroom

Compare several characteristics and always verify the identification.

Read more about Birch bolete ›
Brick-red bolete
Brick-red bolete
Leccinum versipelle
★★★★★
Good edible mushroom

Compare several characteristics and always verify the identification.

Read more about Brick-red bolete ›

Preparation

Cook thoroughly by frying or boiling. Young, firm specimens give the best result.

Recipe suggestions

Fried Mottled Bolete with butter and onion, served with boiled potatoes.

Images – study the mushroom from several angles

Click an image to display it as the main image.

⚠ Important safety information

Leccinum species can be difficult to distinguish. Check the host tree, cap colour and stem scales.

Facts and sources

Sources
Svampguiden; SLU Artdatabanken/Artfakta
Checked batch 10 – factual text compiled against