Chestnut bolete or Suede bolete

Cap 3–12 cm, hemispherical in young mushrooms, then flat-convex or flat. Color chestnut-brown, reddish-brown, sometimes lighter — hazel. The surface is dry, finely felty to the touch, and may crack slightly in old mushrooms. The skin does not peel off.

Cap 4-12 cm across, hemispherical in young mushrooms, later becoming convex to flat. Color olive-green, yellow-green, ocher-green, brighter when young, paling with age. The surface is velvety and dryish, slightly sticky in damp weather; in old mushrooms it often cracks, with white cracks between the polygons of skin.

Pore surface of tubes, white at first, then yellowish to straw-colored. Pores small and round. They do NOT turn blue when pressed — this is the key difference from its relative Gyroporus cyanescens.

The hymenophore is made of tubes attached to the stem. Color bright yellow when young, turning yellow-olive with age. The pores are small and angular, and turn blue when pressed — usually, though not always. Spore print olive-brown.

Stem 4–8 cm tall, 1–3 cm thick, cylindrical or slightly tapering toward the base. Same color as the cap or a little lighter. The surface is finely felty. The most distinctive feature: in mature mushrooms the stem is hollow inside, with uneven chambers — like dried bamboo.

Stem 5-10 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, cylindrical, often slightly narrowing toward the base. Color yellow-ocher with fine lengthwise reddish-brown scales forming a net — a characteristic feature of the species among the boletes. No ring.

Flesh white, brittle, does NOT change color when cut (an important feature — other boletes with a chestnut cap often turn blue or pink). Hollow in the stem of mature mushrooms.

The flesh is meaty, pale yellow, rusty in the lower part of the stem. When cut, it changes little: it may turn faintly blue or flush slightly reddish. The smell is faintly mushroomy, with a note of ripe apple. The taste is mild and pleasant.

The smell is faint, pleasantly mushroomy with a hint of nut. The taste is mild, sweetish, reminiscent of a real chestnut.

Faint, pleasant and mushroomy, with a fruity (apple) note.