EDIBLE: Red-capped Scaber Stalk is a good edible with firm texture, though not as highly prized as King Bolete. Must be cooked thoroughly - can cause digestive upset if undercooked or eaten raw. Flesh darkening is normal. The orange cap and rough-scaled stem are diagnostic features.
The Red-capped Scaber Stalk features a distinctive orange to reddish-orange cap (5-20 cm) with dry to slightly tacky surface. Pores are white when young, aging to grayish, bruising brownish. The tall, white stem is covered with dark brown to blackish scabers (rough scales) - a diagnostic feature. White flesh stains pink to reddish when cut, aging to gray or black. Spore print is olive-brown.
| Family | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Genus | Leccinum |
| Edibility | Edible* |
| Toxicity | unknown |
| Season | Jun-Oct |
| Habitat | Mycorrhizal exclusively with aspen and poplar trees in mixed forests. Forms obligate associations with Populus species. Found in aspen groves, riparian areas with cottonwood, and mixed aspen-conifer forests. |
| Region | Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes region, Northeastern forests with aspen, Pacific Northwest aspen stands, Northern California, Alaska, Canada |
Habitat: Mycorrhizal exclusively with aspen and poplar trees in mixed forests. Forms obligate associations with Populus species. Found in aspen groves, riparian areas with cottonwood, and mixed aspen-conifer forests.
Region: Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes region, Northeastern forests with aspen, Pacific Northwest aspen stands, Northern California, Alaska, Canada
Summer through fall (June-October) with peak fruiting in July-August. Often appears soon after summer rains in aspen habitats.
Typical months: Jun-Oct
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species. The differentiator is the point — learn the one or two tells that separate them:
orange-red cap, similar habitat with aspen
stem scabers distinguish from Boletus
lack the distinctive scabrous stem
have gills not pores, produce latex
Pin the patch before you leave it. Coordinates, photos, and field notes stay on your device — and the offline lookalike guide travels with you into the deep woods.
Download Mushroom TrackerDisclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Never consume a wild mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identification.