CAP: (4-14 cm) wide, convex, becoming broadly convex to nearly plane in age; surface dry, smooth, lacking scales or conspicuous fibers, reddish brown or yellow-brown to olive-brown; flesh pale yellow, quickly blueing when exposed, staining orange with the addition of KOH and grayish with FeSO₄; odor and taste not distinctive.

PORE SURFACE: bright yellow to yellow when fresh, staining blue when bruised; pores circular to angular, 2-3 per mm.

STALK: (4-12 cm) long, (1-4 cm) thick, nearly equal or enlarged downward, solid, yellow on the upper portion, pinkish red to purplish red on the lower portion, or at least tinged reddish, especially near the base, reticulate overall or at least over the upper half, blueing when bruised; partial veil and ring absent.

SPORE PRINT: olive-brown.

MICROSCOPIC FEATURES: spores 10-15 x 3-4 μm, narrowly oblong to subfusoid, smooth, ochraceous.

FRUITING: solitary, scattered or in groups on the ground under beech, maples or conifers, especially hemlock; June-September; occasional.

EDIBILITY: edible and very good.

COMMENTS: this bolete has often been mistakenly labeled as Boletus pseudopeckii. Boletus pseudopeckii has pale yellow flesh that slowly stains pale blue when exposed. Its stalk is initially yellow overall, often with a red zone at the apex, soon developing reddish tones at the base and typically becoming yellow again. It has a reticulum that is so fine that a hand lens is required to observe it on fresh, mature specimens.

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