Suillus Caerulescens

Day 35: If you have found a mushroom with "sponge" underneath the cap instead of gills, it is most likely one of the boletes. The common name is a convenient generalization for a group which includes Boletus, Suillus, Leccinum and others. Many are edible, and some are choice: the "King Boleta" (Boletus edulis), for example. As a rule, those with red pores or stipes are to be considered poisonous, and those which stain blue may cause reactions in some people. Suillus caerulescens (above) is one of the latter. Also known as the "Douglas-fir Suillus," they fruit abundantly in my yard. The cap is viscid (sticky), and the pores are large and angular (see inset). "Fat Jack" is another common name for the species, and it is generally regarded to be undesirable for the table.