Ruby bolete or Red cracking bolete

Cap 3-7 cm across, hemispherical in young mushrooms, later becoming convex to flat. Color bright red, raspberry-red, carmine, richer when young, fading to brownish-red with age. The surface is velvety and dry, slightly sticky in damp weather. In old mushrooms it often cracks into polygons, revealing a yellow layer under the skin (not red, as in the red cracking bolete).

Cap 3-10 cm across, hemispherical in young mushrooms, later becoming convex to flat. Color chestnut-brown to olive-brown, darker when young. The surface is velvety; in old mushrooms it typically cracks into polygons with a distinct pinkish-red layer in the cracks — this is the most reliable diagnostic feature of the species. In damp weather it's slightly sticky.

The hymenophore is made of tubes attached to the stem. Color yellow when young, turning yellow-olive with age. The pores are small and stain strongly blue when pressed. Spore print olive-brown.

The hymenophore is made of tubes attached to the stem. Color yellow when young, turning yellow-olive with age. The pores are small and stain strongly blue when pressed. Spore print olive-brown.

Stem 4-7 cm tall, 0.8-1.5 cm thick, cylindrical, often thickening toward the base. Color yellow at the top, with distinct reddish-brown lengthwise streaks and a delicate reddish fibrous net in the lower half. In old mushrooms the stem is redder.

Stem 5-8 cm tall, 0.8-1.5 cm thick, cylindrical, often thickened toward the base. Color yellow at the top, with a characteristic lengthwise pinkish-red band or zone in the lower half. When cut, it turns blue.

The flesh is thin, soft and yellow, and in the lower part of the stem with a noticeable bright yellow or yellow-orange spot when cut lengthwise — a diagnostic feature of the species. When cut, it stains strongly blue (within 30-60 sec).

The flesh is yellow in the cap, soft and watery, and in the lower part of the stem has a pinkish-red zone. When cut, it turns blue (within 30-60 sec). The smell is faintly mushroomy.

Faint, pleasant and mushroomy, with no distinct notes.

Faint, pleasant and mushroomy, with no distinct notes.