CAP: (3-14 cm) wide, convex, becoming broadly convex to nearly flat; surface with scattered, flattened, brownish to reddish fibers over an apricot-orange to yellow ground color, often slightly sticky when moist; margin incurved to inrolled and remaining so for a long time, lacking conspicuous veil remnants even when young; flesh yellow, often reddening slightly when cut or bruised, not staining blue or green; odor not distinctive; taste mild to slightly acidic.

PORE SURFACE: pale yellowish orange when young, becoming dull ochre to dingy yellow in age, not staining blue when cut or bruised; pores angular, mostly 2 per mm.

STALK: (4-8 cm) long, (1-2 cm) thick, nearly equal, solid, yellow or yellowish, not white, typically spotted with glandular dots that are yellow like the stalk when young but darken with age, not reticulate; partial veil and ring absent.

SPORE PRINT: brown.

MICROSCOPIC FEATURES: spores 7-10 x 2.7-3.5 μm, narrowly elliptic to subfusiform, smooth, pale brown.

FRUITING: scattered or in groups on the ground in hardwoods, especially oak, or in mixed woods; July-October; occasional.

EDIBILITY: edible.

COMMENTS: this mushroom is unusual among species of Suillus because it appears not to associate exclusively with conifers.

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