Painted Bolete
ExploreFungi
Painted Bolete
Suillus variegatus
The Painted Bolete is a beautiful mushroom with a colorful cap. It’s a delight to see while exploring the woods!
Habitat: Pine forests
Appearance
The Painted Bolete has a unique woolly-felted cap, ranging from yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, often appearing painted with diverse shades. Its underside features small, yellowish pores instead of traditional gills, which helps differentiate it. The stout stalk is typically reddish or orange-brown, adding to its vibrant look.
KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderBoletalesFamilySuillaceaeGenusSuillus
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
1
Interesting facts
It's sometimes called the "Velvet Bolete" because of its furry top!
Its fuzzy cap feels like a soft, woolly blanket to touch!
This mushroom loves hanging out with pine trees in cool, northern forests!
Under its cap, it hides tiny tubes instead of classic mushroom gills!
Special abilities
Ability
Nutrient Exchanger
Painted Bolete forms a partnership with pine roots, swapping vital nutrients for sugars produced by the tree, helping both grow.
Ability
Spore Sharpshooter
Painted Bolete has millions of tiny tubes that launch microscopic spores into the air, spreading new mushrooms far and wide.
Ability
Color Changer
Painted Bolete's internal flesh undergoes a slow chemical reaction, turning a faint blue when exposed to air.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 4-12 cm
- Edibility
- edible
- Cap Diameter
- 5-15 cm
- Growth Substrate
- soil
- Season
- Summer to fall
- Spore Color
- Olive-brown
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris
Trades nutrients with its roots in European forests.
symbiotic with
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Partners with this tree in North American woodlands.
eaten by
Great Grey Slug
Limax maximus
Slugs and other invertebrates often feed on its caps.
Traits
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Variegated Bolete
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Painted Bolete?
4-12 cm
Is Painted Bolete edible?
edible
How big is Painted Bolete?
5-15 cm
Where is Painted Bolete usually found?
Pine forests
What does Painted Bolete grow on?
soil
When is Painted Bolete in season?
Summer to fall
What color are Painted Bolete spores?
Olive-brown
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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