Larch bolete or Sticky bolete

Cap 4–10 cm (sometimes up to 15), hemispherical in young mushrooms, then cushion-shaped, almost flat in old ones. Color bright yellow, lemon-yellow, golden-orange, less often rusty brown. The surface is very sticky and shiny — in wet weather it looks literally lacquered. The skin peels off easily and often stretches into strips.

The cap of the sticky bolete reaches 4 to 10 centimeters across. When young it is convex and hemispherical, and with age it opens out to cushion-shaped and flat. The cap surface is very slimy and sticky, especially in wet weather, which is how the mushroom got its name. The coloring is subdued and variable, from dirty gray and gray-brown to olive-gray and pale clay, often with darker streaks or spots. The slimy skin peels off easily, revealing a paler surface.

Tubes adnate to the stem at first, then notched. Yellowish when young, later grayish- or olive-yellow. Pores small and angular. When pressed they turn pinkish, then brown — a characteristic reaction. In young mushrooms they are covered by a yellowish membranous veil.

Under the cap is a layer of tubes with relatively large, angular and irregular pores, larger than in other Suillus species. They are dirty gray, grayish white or olive-tinged, which again sets this species apart from its golden-pored relatives. When pressed or damaged, the pores slowly take on a blue-green or brownish tint. In young mushrooms the pore surface is covered by a veil, the remains of which form a ring on the stem.

Stem 4–12 cm tall, 1–3 cm thick, cylindrical or slightly widening toward the base. Yellow above, brownish below the ring, with small rusty dots. The ring is white or yellowish, membranous, and breaks down quickly — in mature mushrooms it’s often gone or only a narrow band remains.

The stem of the sticky bolete is cylindrical, 4 to 8 centimeters tall, grayish white or pale gray. Near the top it has a noticeable slimy ring left by the veil; above it the surface is paler, and below it is covered with small grayish glandular dots. When touched, the stem may also slowly take on a bluish-green tint. There is no volva. The combination of gray tones, the ring and the link to larch reliably identifies this species.

Flesh yellow, soft, watery in mature mushrooms. When cut it turns slightly pinkish in the cap, and sometimes a bit greenish in the stem. The texture is slimy-fibrous.

The flesh of the sticky bolete is whitish or grayish, fairly soft and watery, especially in mature mushrooms. Its characteristic trait, reflected in its folk name, is a slow color change in the air: when cut, the flesh gradually takes on a blue-green and sometimes pinkish-brown tint. The taste is mild, with no noticeable bitterness, but overall rather bland. Because of the watery texture and mediocre flavor, mostly young, firm specimens are chosen for the table.

Smell faint, mushroomy, with a barely noticeable resinous note. Taste mild, not bitter.

The smell of the sticky bolete is weak and nondescript, typically mushroomy, with no sharp or unpleasant notes. Aroma is not a defining feature, so for identification rely on the gray slimy cap, the large grayish pores, the ring on the stem and growth next to larch.