How to identify Painted Suillus

To correctly identify Painted Suillus (Suillus pictus), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   The cap is yellow, covered with reddish-brown scales or fibrils, and slimy when wet.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   Suillus species do not have gills. Instead, they have pores. The pores are small, angular, and yellow, becoming brownish with age. They are decurrent, meaning they run down the stem.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   The stem is yellow with reddish-brown glandular dots. It is typically 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in) long and 0.5–1.5 cm (0.2–0.6 in) thick.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   The flesh is yellow and does not change color when bruised.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   The fruiting body of Suillus pictus is a mushroom with a cap and stem. The cap is typically 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in) in diameter, convex to flattened, and has a slimy texture when wet. The stem is 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in) long and 0.5–1.5 cm (0.2–0.6 in) thick, and is typically yellow with reddish-brown glandular dots.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Suillus pictus is mycorrhizal with Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus). It is found in eastern North America.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Slimy when wet, covered with reddish-brown scales

Growth Form

Mycorrhizal

Spore Print

Brown

Body color

Yellow and reddish-brown

Odor

Mild

Flesh bruises

Does not bruise

Height

3–7 cm

Cap Diameter

3–10 cm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Decurrent pores
• Stem shape: Equal
• Stem surface: Glandular dots
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Solid

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