CAP: (8-18 cm) wide, convex, becoming broadly convex to nearly flat in age; surface dry, smooth or finely velvety, often finely cracked in age, not sticky or slimy, red to brick-red, soon fading to reddish orange or orange-yellow; flesh pale yellow, blueing when cut or bruised; odor and taste not distinctive.

PORE SURFACE: yellow, sometimes with a pale orange tinge when young, becoming dingy yellow or tinged reddish orange in age, blueing quickly when bruised; pores circular, 1-2 per mm.

STALK: (6-14 cm) long, (1-4.5 cm) thick, equal or tapering downward, solid, yellow above or overall when young, developing orange to reddish or reddish brown tones or streaks in age, especially over the lower portion, sometimes blueing when bruised, not reticulate or only finely so at the apex; partial veil and ring absent.

SPORE PRINT: olive-brown.

MICROSCOPIC FEATURES: spores 11-17 x 3-5 μm, narrowly fusiform, smooth, pale brown.

FRUITING: solitary, scattered, or in groups on the ground, especially under oaks; July-September; occasional.

EDIBILITY: unknown.

COMMENTS: Boletus sensibilis (poisonous) has a dark to pale brick-red cap that fades to dull rose or cinnamon in age, not reddish orange, and tends to have less red on its stalk.

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