Suillus bellinii
Description
Suillus bellinii is a pored mushroom of the genus Suillus in the family Suillaceae. It is found in the coastal pine forests of southern Europe. Young specimen with the characteristic sticky cap, growing among grass and pine needles. Spores small and the tapered thick stem is freckled with cinnamon-colored markings.
It is reportedly edible. Removal of the slimy cap cuticle is recommended.
Common names: Champagne Bolete.
Mushroom Identification
Cap
The cap is initially convex and irregular, but becomes flattered with maturity, reaching up to 15 cm in diameter. The thick cuticle is brown and marbled with white to gray tones towards the periphery, especially in young specimens. It is very viscid during wet weather and peels easily - characteristics shared by many species of Suillus.
Tubes
The tubes are short, while the pores are small and colored whitish, beige, and, with maturity, yellowish.
Pores
The pores may exude a reddish latex in fresh specimens.
Stem
The stem is short, cylindrical, and colored whitish, ornamented with reddish dots along its length. The firm flesh is whitish and yellowish in the stipe base and it is said to have a fruity odor and a pleasant taste. It is often infested with insect larvae. In a color reaction test with ammonia solution, the flesh turns crimson.
Spores
The spores are ochre-brown, fusiform, sized 8-10 by 3.5-4.5 μm.
Similar Species
Suillus bellinii often shares its habitat with Suillus mediterraneensis. The flesh of the latter species is yellow.
Photo sources:
Photo 1 - Author: 2011-11-21_Suillus_bellinii_(Inzenga)_Kuntze_183889.jpg: (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo 2 - Author: 2011-11-21_Suillus_bellinii_(Inzenga)_Kuntze_183888.jpg: (CC BY-SA 3.0)