Suillus clintonianus or Slippery jack

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.

Cap 4–12 cm across, convex in young mushrooms, later flattened-convex. The surface is covered with a thick layer of slime — especially in wet weather. Color chocolate-brown or chestnut, yellowish brown when dry. The margin often bears remnants of the partial veil.

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 has tubes. Pores yellow, small, regular, turning yellow-green with age. The tubes are attached to the stem or run slightly down it. When pressed, the pores turn slightly brownish.

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.

Stem 5–10 cm tall, 1–2 cm thick, solid, cylindrical. Yellow and granular in the upper part, brown or violet-brownish below the ring. A characteristic purple-brown membranous ring — a remnant of the partial veil and one of the key diagnostic features of the 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.

Flesh yellowish or pale cream, firm in young mushrooms, softer in mature ones. Turns slightly pink when cut or stays unchanged. The taste is mild, pleasant, slightly sourish. The cap skin peels off easily together with the slime.

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.

Smell pleasant, unobtrusively mushroomy, slightly resinous — reflecting its symbiosis with pine. With cooking the aroma intensifies and becomes more pronounced. No foreign unpleasant notes.