About Xerocomus leptospermi (McNabb) Klofac
Xerocomus leptospermi (McNabb) Klofac, originally described as Boletus leptospermi, produces a cap that ranges in color from yellow-brown to reddish-brown, and reaches 4–8 cm in diameter. The cap surface is velvety to the touch, and may sometimes crack in dry weather. The yellow stem grows 3–5 cm in length. Both the cap and stem turn blue when cut or damaged. The pores on the underside of the cap start out dull yellow, and turn golden-yellow as the fungus ages. This species is endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand, and is commonly found in native forests across both the North and South Islands. It forms a symbiotic relationship with the roots of kānuka, mānuka, and beech trees. It is thought that the fungus helps the trees and shrubs absorb nutrients from soil, in exchange for sugars the tree produces via photosynthesis.
