Ruby bolete or Suede 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 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.

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 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 4-7 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 5-10 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.

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 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.

Faint, pleasant and mushroomy, with no distinct notes.

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