Suillus clintonianus or Weeping 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.

Cap 3-10 cm across, hemispherical with an inrolled edge when young, becoming convex-flat with time. The color is yellow-chestnut, honey-brown, reddish-brown, darker when young, fading to ocher-yellow with age. The surface is very slimy in wet weather, smooth, shiny. Glossy in dry weather. The skin peels easily from young mushrooms, with more difficulty from old ones.

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.

Pores and tubes — the tubes are attached to the stem or slightly decurrent. In young mushrooms they're pale yellow, with characteristic tiny whitish droplets of milky juice. Over time the droplets dry, leaving granular brown dots on the tubes. With age the tubes turn yellow-olive. The pores are small, the same color as the tubes. Spore print ocher-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.

Stem 4-8 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, cylindrical, even, without a ring. The color is yellowish, and in the upper part with characteristic tiny yellow-brown granular dots — dried droplets of milky juice. This is the main diagnostic feature 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 firm when young, softening with age, creamy yellow. When cut it doesn't change color — unlike the velvet bolete. The smell and taste are mild and pleasant, with a slightly fruity note.

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.

Pleasant and mushroomy with a light fruity note — especially in young ones.