Painted Bolete
Suillus spraguei
Do not eat any fungi that has not been properly identified by a qualified professional, some are DEADLY when ingested. All edible wild fungi MUST be cooked.
Painted bolete is a species of fungi in the Suillaceae family, in the order of boletes. It is known by a variety of common names, including the painted slippery cap, the painted suillus or the red and yellow suillus. Painted bolete has had a complex taxonomical history, and is also frequently referred to as Suillus pictus in literature.
Type
Distinguishing Features
The readily identifiable fruit bodies have caps that are dark red when fresh, dry to the touch, and covered with mats of hairs and scales that are separated by yellow cracks. Caps measure from 3 to 12 cm; convex with an inrolled margin when young, but soon broadly convex to flat; whitish partial veil tissue often hanging from the margin; dry; and it fades with age.
Height
The stalk (stem) grows anywhere from 4 to 12 cm (2 to 5") long and 1 to 2.5 cm (3/8 to 1") thick. Can be wider at the base. The stalk is the same colour as cap and scaly.
Habitat
The painted bolete tend to grow around Eastern white pine trees in the northeast U.S. and eastern Canada.
Spore Print
Olive-brown to brown.
Season
Summer into autumn, sometimes as late as November depending on location.
Gills
It does not have gills as this is in the order of boletes; it have pores. Pore surface is covered with a whitish partial veil when young; yellow, darker with age; sometimes slightly running down the stem. Pores are small to large, .5 to 5 mm across, vaguely radially arranged and the tubes are 4 to 8 mm deep.
Edibility
The painted bolete is edible. It is not highly regarded, yet some people claim it is a choice edible. Once cooked, it turns black making it look unappealing. Many people will dehydrate this because it helps to concentrate the flavour.
Other Name
Painted Suillus.
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