COMMON NAME: Russell's Bolete.

CAP: (3-13 cm) wide, hemispheric to convex, becoming broadly convex; margin strongly incurved; surface velvety when young, dry, becoming finely cracked or forming scale-like patches, yellow-brown to reddish brown, cinnamon-brown, or olive-gray; flesh pale yellow to yellow, often brownish around larval tunnels, not blueing when cut or bruised; odor and taste not distinctive.

PORE SURFACE: yellow to greenish yellow, not bruising blue but sometimes changing to brighter yellow when cut or rubbed; pores angular, 1 mm or more wide.

STALK: (10-20 cm) long, (1-2 cm) thick, equal or enlarging slightly downward, often curved, frequently sticky at the base when moist, solid; reddish brown to pinkish tan, deeply grooved and ridged for most or all of its length; ridges branched or torn to create a honeycomb or shaggy-bark effect; partial veil and ring absent.

SPORE PRINT: dark olive to olive-brown.

MICROSCOPIC FEATURES: spores 15-20 x 7-11 μm, elliptic, longitudinally striate with deep grooves or wrinkled with a cleft in the wall at the apex, pale brown.

FRUITING: solitary to scattered on the ground and on humus under oak, hemlock, and pine; July-September; uncommon.

EDIBILITY: edible.

From Mushrooms of Northeastern North America Alan E. Bessette, Arleen R. Bessette, & David W. Fischer  Copright © 1997 Syracuse University, ISBN 0-8156-0388-6