subdivision = Boletaceae
Boletinellaceae
Coniophoraceae
Diplocystaceae
Gasterellaceae
Gastrosporiaceae
Gomphidiaceae
Gyroporaceae
Hygrophoropsidaceae
Hymenogasteraceae
Leucogastraceae
Melanogastraceae
Octavianinaceae
Paxillaceae
Protogastraceae
Rhizopogonaceae
Sclerodermataceae
Suillaceae

Boletes, the best known members of the order Boletales are mushrooms characterized by holding their spores in a spongy mass of vertical tubes (pores) on the underside of the mushroom, instead of on gills (as are found in agarics). Boletes belong to the botanical families Boletaceae and Gyroporaceae, the latter small group previously not having been separated.

The order also includes some gilled mushrooms (such as species of Paxillus and Gomphidius) which have the same flesh texture as the Boletes, spore-bearing tissue which is also easily separable from the cap, and similar microscopic characteristics of spores and cystidia. Molecular phlyogeny has moved several other physically dissimilar species into Boletales, including the earthballs.

The polypores (order Polyporales) are similar to Boletales in that their spore-bearing structures consist of a layer of vertical tubes. However their flesh generally has a much tougher consistency and they are not closely related taxonomically.

External links

*The Boletes ("Boletales")

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