First Find of the Season - But What Bolete is it?

[cowshill]

Found this bolete today. The first fungus all season other than all the LBJs and LTJs that are a mystery to me. I thought I knew all the boletes in my area, but this one is new to me. About 7" diameter cap, dry almost suede-like feel. It was found at the top of a gravel bank trying to push it's way out from under a small fallen softwood tree - I assume that's why the cap is so irregular in shape. I'm guessing the bright yellow stem ought to be a give-away, but not to me.

I find in one book the Velvet Bolete, suillus variegatus, which matches quite closely except that the book says the tubes and flesh stain blue. On the fungus the tubes darken greatly when bruised, but with no blue tone, and the yellow flesh does not stain at all.

- Cowshill

[cowshill]

I screwed up somehow on the photos so there's no thumbnail of the 2nd and 3rd ones. But if you click on the "Not Found" icon you'll get the pic.

[flaxton]

The bright yellow flesh is a sure way (without tasting it) of identifying the Peppery Bolete Chalciporus piperatus.

Mal

[cowshill]

Thanks, Mal. Checking it out on the web (particularly Rogers) that does seem the best fit. I'd passed it up in my original search as all sources list it as small with a cap diameter of 3-6 cm, and this is much larger - but still the best fit.
- Jim

[flaxton]

I must admit all my books say max 80mm so yours is waaay over that. I have found large fruitbodies
but nothing on the scale of yours.
I still think that is what it is but lets see if anyone has a better idea.
Mal

[cowshill]

Here's the 3 photos with thumbnails!