Yellowfoot bolete

Appearance

The fruit bodies have caps that are initially convex before flattening out in maturity, reaching diameters between 3 and 15 cm. The cap surface is dry to slightly sticky. It is initially pink to rose-colored, fading to tan or pinkish tan in maturity.

The cap margin may curl upward in maturity. The flesh is white, and does not stain blue when it is bruised or injured. It does not have any distinct odor or taste.

The pore surface is initially white before becoming pinkish to flesh-colored in age. The individual pores are circular to angular, numbering two or three per millimeter, while the tubes are 8–14 mm long. Tubes near the top of the stipe are depressed and almost free from attachment. The stipe measures 4–14 cm long by 1–2.5 cm thick and is equal in width throughout its length, or with a slight taper in either direction.

The stipe surface has a scurfy texture from scabers that are colored white, pink or reddish. The underlying surface color is white or pinkish except for the yellow base.

The spore print has been reported as ranging in color from pink.

Naming

Fruit bodies of "Harrya chromapes" are readily identified in the field by their rosy color, bright yellow stipe base, and reddish scabers on the stipe. "Tylopilus subchromapes" is a similar species found in Australia.

"Tylopilus ballouii" has a more orangish cap and lacks the distinctive chrome-yellow stipe base.

"Harrya atriceps" is a closely related rare species from Costa Rica. In contrast to its more common relative, it lacks reddish color in its stipe scabers and has a black cap, although it has a similar yellow stipe base.

Habitat

"Harrya chromapes" is an ectomycorrhizal species, and its fruit bodies grow singly to scattered on soil. They are usually found in forests containing conifers, Betulaceae and oak in North America.

Predators

Fruit bodies can be parasitized by the molds "Sepedonium ampullosporum", "S. laevigatum", and "S. chalcipori". In "Sepedonium" infections, a white to powdery yellow mold covers the surface of the fruit body.

The mushrooms are a food source and rearing habitat for several insect species, including the fungus gnats "Mycetophila fisherae" and "M. signatoides", and flies such as "Pegomya winthemi" and species of the genera "Sciophila" and "Mydaea". The cottontail rabbit species "Sylvilagus brasiliensis" has been recorded feeding on the mushrooms in Costa Rica.