Devil's bolete  (Boletus satanus)

Fungi, for reasons not fully understood, are unpredictable in their appearance. As they are only visible when they produce their fruiting bodies, it can be impossible to tell whether a fungus is widespread or rare. The Devil's bolete does not appear to be common in the UK, and surveys are continuing to establish its true status.

The Devil's bolete is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) and included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme (SRP). With a species as difficult to find as this fungus, it is important to establish, first of all, just how rare it is. The conservation body, Plantlife, have added the Devil's bolete to their 'Back from the Brink' project. Over the last few years, surveys have been carried out by a number of people to find examples of this fungus, and produce a clearer picture of its true range. While it is known to be rare in many of the European countries within its range, the Devil's bolete is not legally protected in any of them. However, many of the sites in the UK where it is recorded are now Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), or listed for protection in the future.