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Rubroboletus pulcherrimus

(Thiers & Halling) D. Arora, N. Siegel & J.L. Frank

Red-pored Bolete

G3Vulnerable Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.57.9825
Element CodeNFSM000016
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryFungus
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomFungi
PhylumBasidiomycota
ClassBasidiomycetes
OrderBoletales
FamilyBoletaceae
GenusRubroboletus
Synonyms
Boletus pulcherrimusThiers & Halling
Other Common Names
Eastwood's Bolete (EN)
Concept Reference
Castellano, M. A., J. E. Smith, T. O'Dell, E. Cazares and S. Nugent. 1999. Handbook to strategy 1 fungal species in the Northwest Forest Plan. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PNW-GTR-476. Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 195 pp. Online. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr476.pdf
Taxonomic Comments
Species Fungorum (2018) transfers Boletus pulcherrimus to Rubroboletus pulcherrimus.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2019-03-22
Change Date2013-04-02
Edition Date2019-03-22
Edition AuthorsFrancisco J. Camacho (2002), rev. C. Lawrence and S. Loring (2017), rev. Treher (2019)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Rubroboletus pulcherrimus is endemic to the Pacific Northwest from British Columbia south to California. There are between 10 and 45 occurrences depending on how occurrences are delineated. This is a large mushroom. Not easily overlooked by mushroomers. However, it is not easy to identify. There are several look-a-likes that only the careful eye can distinguish between.
Range Extent Comments
Rubroboletus pulcherrimus is endemic to the Pacific Northwest from British Columbia south to California. Specimens from New Mexico and Arizona should be compared with California material and Rubroboletus haematinus, which they are likely conspecific with (N. Siegel, pers. comm. 2017).
Threat Impact Comments
This is a mycorrhizal species; it is dependent on a host tree for its carbohydrates. Studies have shown that if the tree is killed the mycorrhizal fungi die shorty after. The one possibly saving feature of this species it the spore bank. However, nothing is known about the spore bank of this species. If the unprotected areas are logged on a 40 year rotation, about 22% would be affected in 10 years and 88% in 100 years.
Ecology & Habitat
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN2
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS2Yes
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource useRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingRestricted (11-30%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationEPHEMERAL FRUITING BODY
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (4)
Oregon (2)
AreaForestAcres
LakeMt. Hood National Forest1,327
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
Washington (2)
AreaForestAcres
Canyon CreekWenatchee National Forest7,983
Twin LakesWenatchee National Forest22,496
References (8)
  1. CABI Bioscience, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures & Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research Databases. 2005. Index fungorum. Available at www.indexfungorum.org (Accessed 2005).
  2. Castellano, M. A., J. E. Smith, T. O'Dell, E. Cazares and S. Nugent. 1999. Handbook to strategy 1 fungal species in the Northwest Forest Plan. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PNW-GTR-476. Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 195 pp. Online. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr476.pdf
  3. Index Fungorum and Species Fungorum. 2018. <i>In</i> Index Fungorum-Species Fungorum (<a href="https://indexfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://indexfungorum.org</a> and <a href="https://speciesfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://speciesfungorum.org</a>) database export on 16 June 2018. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  4. Index Fungorum and Species Fungorum. 2025. <i>In</i> Index Fungorum-Species Fungorum (<a href="https://indexfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://indexfungorum.org</a> and <a href="https://speciesfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://speciesfungorum.org</a>) database export on 29 September 2025. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  5. MycoBank. 2025. MycoBank database download, export date January 2025. International Mycological Association. [http://www.mycobank.org]
  6. Siegel, Noah. Personal Communication. Mycologist.
  7. Smith, A.H., and H.D. Thiers. 1971. The Boletes of Michigan. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 428 p.
  8. Thiers, H.D., and R.E. Halling. 1976. California Boletes. V. Two New Species of <i>Boletus</i>. Mycologia 68: 976-983.