Suillus clintonianus or Hollow bolete

The cap of Suillus clintonianus reaches 4 to 12 centimeters across. When young it is neatly hemispherical or cushion-shaped, opening out with maturity to convex and almost flat. The cap surface is smooth, noticeably slimy and glossy in wet weather, as if varnished, and turns sticky and shiny in dry weather. The color is rich and warm — from chestnut brown and reddish brown to a dark chocolate brown, often darker in the center. The skin peels easily off the cap, which is typical of all slippery jacks.

The cap of the hollow bolete reaches 3 to 10 centimeters in diameter. When young it is convex-hemispherical; with age it opens out to flat, sometimes with a small umbo. The surface is the main difference from other Suillus species: it is dry, felty-scaly-fibrous, not slimy, often with veil remnants along the margin. The color is yellowish brown, reddish brown or chestnut, with darker, flattened fibrous scales.

Under the cap lies a tubular hymenophore with small, round pores. In young mushrooms they are pale yellow or golden yellow, turning a deeper yellow and olive-yellow as they mature. The tubes are attached to the stem or run slightly down it. When pressed or damaged, the pores may slowly turn brown, developing rusty brown spots. In young mushrooms the hymenophore is hidden by a whitish veil, whose remnants later form a ring on the stem.

The hymenophore consists of tubes. The tubes run noticeably down the stem (decurrent), with wide, angular, radially arranged pores that resemble honeycomb. They are yellow or golden yellow, olive-yellow with age. The large, angular, decurrent pores set this species apart from the fine-pored Suillus species. The spore print is olive-brown.

The stem of Suillus clintonianus is cylindrical, 4 to 10 centimeters tall, fairly dense and springy. Its defining feature is a prominent ring in the upper part, left behind when the veil tears. Above the ring the stem is pale yellow and often finely netted; below it, brown to ochre-brown, with darker fibers. To the touch the stem is dry or slightly sticky. There is no volva. It's the combination of a slimy chestnut cap, a ring and the link to larch that reliably sets this species apart.

The stem is cylindrical, 4 to 8 centimeters tall, and its defining feature is the cavity inside, especially noticeable in mature mushrooms, which gave the species its name. In the upper part of the stem there is a noticeable fibrous ring — a remnant of the veil; above the ring the stem is yellowish, below it brownish red, matching the cap. There is no volva. The combination of a dry scaly cap, a hollow ringed stem and the link with larch reliably identifies this species.

The flesh of Suillus clintonianus is tender, firm when young and spongier with age. It is pale yellow or lemon yellow, barely changes on exposure to air or only browns slightly where cut. The flesh tastes pleasant and mild, with no bitterness, and soaks up flavors well during cooking. As with all slippery jacks, the flesh tends to soften quickly, so for the table choose young, firm mushrooms.

The flesh is whitish or pale yellow, fairly soft; when cut, it barely changes color or turns slightly yellow. The taste is mild and pleasant, without bitterness. Because it tends to go soft, choose young, firm specimens for the table. Unlike slimy Suillus species, the dry cap is not sticky and does not need peeling.

The smell of Suillus clintonianus is faint, pleasant and typically mushroomy, with no sharp or sour notes. The aroma is not a defining feature of the species, so when identifying it, rely first and foremost on the slimy chestnut cap, the ring on the stem and its growing next to larch.

The smell is faint, pleasant, typically mushroomy, without sharp notes. The scent is not a defining feature, so for identification rely on the dry, scaly brown cap, the large decurrent yellow pores, the hollow ringed stem and the constant link with larch.