A newcomer to Polish forests. Where did the American boletus come from?

The American bolete, also known as the golden bolete, arrived in Europe accidentally in the 1980s. Initially found in Lithuania, it gradually spread north and west across the continent. In Poland, it was initially recorded in Podlasie and Pomerania, but is now also increasingly common in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.

From America to Poland. The American bolete is becoming increasingly common in our forests.

This fall, the mushroom is also appearing in the Bydgoszcz area. "Recently, we've been finding quite a few American boletes, also known as golden boletes, in forests. These are edible mushrooms, somewhat similar in appearance to the familiar boletes, but their flavor is more delicate and less pronounced," explains Marta Myśliwiec, mushroom classifier at the Voivodeship Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Bydgoszcz, in an interview with TVP3 Bydgoszcz.

This mushroom is characterized by a massive, light brown cap and a thick, whitish, furrowed stem. It has a delicate, slightly sour flavor, making it suitable for sauces and when dried. In the wild, it is found primarily around pine trees and in sandy habitats, such as heathlands and dunes.

The American boletus in the forests of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is edible but invasive.

Although the American bolete is not dangerous, its expansion is causing concern among biologists. As it invades new areas, it may be displacing native fungi, impacting local ecosystems.

Those who have doubts about identifying a specific species can seek free advice from mushroom experts. "When in doubt, we always encourage you to consult mushroom atlases and seek help from classifiers at district sanitary-epidemiological stations," Myśliwiec reminded.

Experts strongly emphasize that when picking mushrooms, you should not collect species that you do not know and not destroy those that are left in the forest.

Read also: A giant mushroom from Poland. Its estimated weight is 605 tons. Read also: Which mushrooms are the healthiest? You won't find these in Polish forests.