Xerocomus ferrugineus or Suede 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 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.

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 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 4–10 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 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.

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 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.

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

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