Xerocomus ferrugineus or Sepia bolete

Cap 4–10 cm, hemispherical in young mushrooms, then cushion-shaped. Color rusty brown, chestnut, dark ochre — richer and darker than the suede bolete. The surface is matte, felty-velvety, slightly sticky in wet weather. In dry conditions it can crack into small squares.

Cap up to 8 cm, flat-convex in young mushrooms; in mature ones often with distinctive radial and crosswise cracks on the surface (like the red cracking bolete). The color varies: beige, dull brown, olive, sometimes with a pinkish tint in the cracks. Surface matte, finely fibrous.

Hymenophore tubular, at first attached to the stem, then notched. Color yellow, olive-yellow in mature ones. Pores angular, small to medium. They turn faintly blue when pressed — less actively than in many other Xerocomus boletes.

The pore surface is tubular, with a small notch near the stem. Lemon yellow, olive brown in mature ones. Pores small, angular, 0.2–0.5 mm. They quickly turn blue when pressed.

Stem 4–10 cm tall, 1–2 cm thick, cylindrical, sometimes slightly narrowing upward. Color yellowish to brown, with barely visible lengthwise fibers. Sometimes reddish at the base.

Stem 3–8 cm tall, 0.5–1.5 cm thick, cylindrical, fragile. Olive yellow at the top, with reddish or orange spots or zones lower down. Darkens to brown at the base.

Flesh pale yellow to yellowish, watery in mature mushrooms, springy in young ones. When cut it does not turn blue, though the cap flesh may flush slightly pinkish. Sometimes pinkish in the stem.

The flesh is pale lemon yellow in the cap and chrome yellow in the upper stem. It turns blue when cut, especially in the tubes and the stem — this is a normal reaction. The texture is watery, cottony in mature ones.

Smell faint, pleasantly mushroomy with a hint of fresh forest litter. Taste mild, neutral.

The smell is faint, mushroomy, with no distinct notes. The taste is mild, neutral and watery.