Suillus luteus - Slippery Jack

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Suillus luteus, commonly known as Slippery Jack, is a most widespread summer and autumn fungus. It is the type species of the Suillus genus. The very slimy (when wet) cap surface is the origin of the common name, which in some countries is applied to several members of the genus Suillus.

This edible bolete is most often seen in large numbers beside paths in pine woods, and it is one of the boletes that has a distinctive ring, white at first but discolouring with age.

Identification Guide

	Cap When wet, as shown on the left, the caps of this species are slimy; in hot sunny weather they dry to a smooth semi-matt finish. Usually dark chestnut brown, but occasionally quite a lot lighter, the caps of Suillus luteus grow to between 5 and 10cm in diameter.
	Tubes and pores Beneath the cap, a white veil covers the lemon yellow pores of this bolete. The veil tears to leave an irregular ring on the stem and often pieces of veil hanging from the cap margin. At first lemon yellow, the medium-sized round pores darken to a sienna-yellow with age.
	Stem 2 to 3cm in diameter and 5 to 10cm tall, the stipe is pale straw-yellow at first, darkening with a dot pattern above the ring and with an irregular covering of brown longitudinal fibres near the base. The stem ring is white initially but often develops a purplish tinge to its lower surface as the fruitbody matures.
Spore print	Ochraceous or buff coloured.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Beneath conifers in damp, usually shaded places.
Season	August to November.
Occurrence	Frequent.
Similar species	Suillus grevillei has a bright yellow-orange cap and angular pores; it occurs under larch.