About Boletus rubriceps D.Arora & J.L.Frank
Boletus rubriceps is a species of bolete fungus belonging to the family Boletaceae. It was officially described as a new species to science in 2014, though before this formal description, the fungus had previously been misidentified as either Boletus edulis or B. pinophilus. Molecular analysis confirmed that it was distinct enough from other morphologically similar Boletus species to be classified as its own separate species. This fungus occurs in the southwestern United States and the southern Rocky Mountains, where it forms associations with spruce, pine, and occasionally fir trees. Its fruit bodies are edible and highly sought after, and they are often sold in farmers' markets in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, as well as being used in some local restaurants. The specific epithet rubriceps references the reddish color of the fungus's caps, derived from the Latin words ruber meaning red and caput meaning head or cap. Common names for this bolete include Ruby Porcini, Rocky Mountain red-capped king bolete, and Rocky Mountain red.
