The eastern North American 'granulatus' slippery jack, associated with eastern white pine. Most North American field guides called it Suillus granulatus, but DNA work showed true S. granulatus is a European associate of hard pines and that the white-pine collections match the type of S. weaverae. It has a bald, slimy orange-brown to tan cap, a ringless stem with glandular dots and yellow shades, and pores that may weep cloudy droplets when young.
Edible by the accounts of North American 'Suillus granulatus', which mostly refer to this species; no source assesses it under its own name. Remove the slimy cap skin and the tubes before cooking. Some people get digestive upset, and handling can cause contact dermatitis. Pale specimens resemble Suillus placidus (white cap, reddish-brown dots).
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
Habitat
Ectomycorrhizal, strictly with eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), in natural stands, plantations and urban plantings. Alone or more often in groups, from summer (often among the first Suillus of the year) into early winter.
Distribution
Eastern North America across the natural range of eastern white pine, and wherever that tree is planted. Described from Minnesota; Wikipedia notes it has been found wherever S. granulatus was recorded in the eastern United States.
Characteristics
Cap: 3-20 cm, convex becoming nearly flat, sticky or slimy, bald; orange-brown to reddish brown when young, often with mosaic-like pigment patches, fading to dull orangish brown, yellow-brown or tan. Pores: whitish, then yellowish, finally dull brownish yellow; about 1 mm wide at maturity; often beaded with cloudy droplets when young; tubes to 1 cm deep. Stem: 4-8 cm long, 1-2 cm thick, white with bright yellow shades near the apex or overall, with tiny yellow to pinkish or brownish glandular dots; no ring. Flesh: white becoming pale yellow, not changing when sliced. Chemical reactions: KOH flashes dark green then greenish black on young caps. Spore print: cinnamon brown to brown. Spores: 6-10 x 2-3 µm, boletoid-fusiform, smooth.
