Rhizopogon

Rhizopogon is a genus of hypogeous Basidiomycetes. Recent micromorphological and molecular phylogenetic study has established that Rhizopogon is a member of the Boletales, closely related to Suillus. All species of Rhizopogon are ectomycorrhizal and are thought to play an important role in the ecology of coniferous forests. R. luteolus was deliberately introduced into Pinus radiata plantations in Western Australia to improve tree growth in the early part of the 20th century.