The order Boletales consists of a large number of genera and about 1000 species. The order consists of species
with a typical 'mushroom' form with stipe and cap mostly with pores but some have gills as well as intermediate
forms between the two. Other genera are puffball-like or with toothed caps and a single species which is
polypore-like [1]. Many species of 'boletes' are mycorrhizal.
The family Boletaceae consists of
species which on the underside of the
cap have a series of pores or tubes
rather than gills. The spores are
matured inside the pores and
eventually drop from these tubes.
Members of Boletus usually have
some form of ornamentation on the
stipe.
The family Suillaceae is a small family
of mushrooms consisting of some 50
species, many of which belong to the
genus Suillus. Members of Suillus are
ectomycorrhizal with coniferous trees.
In general Suillus species are slimy or
sticky in moist conditions.