Suillus Adans.
A number of species are known in Europe. Fruitbody boletoid without or with partial veil, and then leaving a ring on the stipe. Cap in most species more or less viscid. Stipe solid.
Suillus ponderosus A.H. Sm. & Thiers
Description
Known to me only from the literature. Fruitbodies with partial veil, soon disrupting and leaving a ring in the upper part of the stipe. Cap up to 25 cm, orange-brown to ochraceous with orange tint, sometimes paler towards the margin, surface smooth and distinctly viscid. Stipe cylindrical or slightly swollen below, solid, dirty whitish to cream, darkening in the lower parts with age, below the tubes with a distinct orange-tinted ring. Flesh yellowish to yellowish-white, unchanging when exposed to air. Tubes short, decurrent, yellow to greyish yellow. Pores more or less angular, concolorous with the tubes, darkening when bruised. Smell not distinctive. Taste not distinctive. Spores 8–10 ´ 4–5 μm.
Habitat. Stands of Douglas’ fir (Pseudotsuga), with which tree the fungus is strictly mycorrhizal.
Distribution. North American fungus that has not yet been found in Europe but might be present and should be looked for.
Similarity. Compare with the other Pseudotsuga-associated species of the genus – Suillus lakei, S. caerulescens and S. imitatus. Due to its specific habitus Suillus ponderosus might superficially resemble some of the members of Suillus sect. Larigni, and especially Suillus grevillei, which grows only under larch (Larix).
Fruitbodies of Suillus ponderosus showing some resemblance to Suillus grevillei. (photo D. Bojantchev)
Fruitbody of Suillus ponderosus. Note the peculiar colour of the ring. (photo D. Bojantchev)
Important literature
Smith, A.H. & Thiers, H.D. 1964. A contribution toward a monograph of North American species of Suillus. Privately published, Ann Arbor.
Thiers, H.D. 1975. California mushrooms. A field guide to the boletes. Hafner Press, New York.