Weeping bolete, an early mushroom of pine forest edges

While most foragers are waiting for the August slippery jacks, those who know the weeping bolete (Suillus granulatus, listed in our catalog as weeping bolete) are already carrying home full baskets. It's the earliest slippery jack in the whole family, appearing as soon as the pine forest edges warm up.

It differs from the classic slippery jack in one noticeable detail: it has no ring on its stem. Instead, the stem shows tiny granules and droplets, which gave the mushroom its name.

The first slippery jack of the season

The weeping bolete wakes up earlier than its relatives. The first ones turn up as early as June, in sunny, warm patches of pine woods, while other slippery jacks are still gathering strength.

Its early arrival is exactly what made it a favorite of those who hate waiting. In flavor and aroma it's every bit as good as the late slippery jack, and sometimes even better, because it comes first, while it's still free of maggots.

Good news for beginners: this species is easy to spot, grows in clusters and has clear features, so it's hard to confuse with anything dangerous.

How to recognize the weeping bolete

It's identified by a combination of features, not just one. Look the mushroom over from top to bottom.

• Cap. Convex, then flat, from light brown to yellowish-brown, with a slimy, glossy skin.
• Stem. Pale, with no ring. The upper part shows tiny milky-white granules and droplets, especially in young mushrooms.
• Pores. The tube layer underneath: small-pored, light yellow, darkening with age. In young mushrooms, tiny droplets of liquid often bead on it.
• Flesh. Soft, pale, yellowish, with a pleasant mushroomy smell; it barely changes color when cut.

The key sign of this particular species: no ring plus granules on the stem. If there's no ring and you can see droplets on the stem, you're looking at a weeping bolete.

How it differs from the slippery jack

The weeping bolete and the slippery jack are easiest to tell apart by two details.

1. Ring. The weeping bolete has none at all; the slippery jack has a noticeable membranous ring.
2. Season. The weeping bolete appears earlier, from June, while the slippery jack gives its main flushes closer to autumn.

Both are edible and equally tasty, so a mistake here is harmless. Still, it's nice to know the difference, because it tells you what stage of the season you're in.

Where and when to look for it

The weeping bolete is linked to pine through mycorrhiza, meaning it lives in a mutually beneficial partnership with its roots. Look for it in sunny, well-warmed patches of pine.

The best spots are:

• young pine stands and pine plantations;
• sunny edges of conifer forest and warm sandy hillocks;
• grassy roadsides of forest tracks among pines;
• patches of mixed forest where pine grows alongside birch.

The season starts in June and runs until September, in flushes after every warm rain. The best time to go is a day or two after rain, since slippery jacks grow fast. You can keep track of these windows with our mushroom radar: it shows when moisture and warmth line up well for mushrooms to appear.

Found one mushroom? Don't rush off. Slippery jacks grow in clusters, and there are often a few more nearby.

A little caution never hurts

The weeping bolete is safe, but caution never hurts. The main rule stays the same: only pick mushrooms with a spongy underside, not gills. The slimy skin is usually peeled off the cap. And as always: if you're not sure, don't pick it.

Sources

• “Identification Guide to the Fungi of Ukraine” (Kyiv, Naukova Dumka publishing house).
• Suillus granulatus on GBIF, a global biodiversity database.
• Suillus granulatus on MycoBank, an international fungal nomenclature database.
• Suillus granulatus on Wikipedia.