Suillus luteus

Taxobox | name = "Suillus luteus"


image_width = 240px
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
class = Homobasidiomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Suillaceae
genus = "Suillus"
species = "S. luteus"
binomial = "Suillus luteus"
binomial_authority = (L.: Fries) Graymycomorphbox
name = Suillus luteus
hymeniumType=pores
capShape = convex
whichGills = adnate
whichGills2=subdecurrent
stipeCharacter=ring
sporePrintColor=brown
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
howEdible=edible

"Suillus luteus" is a pored mushroom of the genus "Suillus" in the Suillaceae family. It has a white stalk with a distinctive ring and an often slimy brown cap, earning it the name Slippery Jack in North America. When dry the cap may be sticky, hence an alternate common name Sticky bun. "S. luteus" is an edible mushroom that can be found all over the northern hemisphere and often grows in a symbiosis (Mycorrhiza) with pine. The slime coating, however, may cause indigestion if not removed.

Description

The cap is yellow to chocolate-brown and up to 12 cm in diameter at maturity. The cap is initially hemispherical, later flattening out. It is slimy to the touch, bare, smooth, and glossy even when dry. The pores are at first light yellow but turn olive to dark yellow later on and grow down the stalk a little. The stalk grows to a height of about 6 to 12 cm and to a width of about 1 to 2.5 cm. Usually it looks like a cylinder, sometimes enlarges at the bottom so that it has more of a pear shape. A white velum connects a the stalk to the cap when young. At maturity the remains of the velum form a ring around the stalk; the Slippery Jack is one of few mushrooms of the genus "Suillus" that sport such a ring.

Similar species

"Suillus luteus" is often confused with "Suillus granulatus", which does not have a ring around its stalk and prefers rather alkaline soil with relatively high lime content. Other than that, "Suillus luteus" is unlikely to be confused with other mushrooms, especially if its preferred home under pine trees and the whitish velum are taken into consideration.

Distribution and habitat

"Suillus luteus" can be found all over the northern hemisphere. It is found in pine forests from the coast to the mountains and exhibits a special liking for the cold-temperate climate. It does not require a specific soil but seems to prefer acidic and nutrient-deficient soil. In September and October it can frequently be found in clusters.

It has also been found under pine trees in introduced pine plantations in Australia, particularly in the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands and New Zealand. There it can be picked around Easter.

Edibility

This mushroom is edible but may occasionally cause allergic reactions in some people. The fungus is better cooked before eating. In Russian, Slippery Jacks are known as "maslayata" ("buttery ones"). They are frequently marinated and are considered a delicacy. However, some people may find them excessively slippery. Gastrointestinal symptoms could be due to high levels of arabitol.

References

"This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia".
* Helmut und Renate Grünert: "Pilze", (1984), Mosaik-Verlag, 287 pages
* Meinhard Moser, Helmut Gams: "Kleine Kryptogamenflora", Vol. 2, Die Röhrlinge, Blätter- und Bauchpilze (Agaricales und Gastromycetales) (1980), Fischer-Verlag

External links

* [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/suillus_luteus.html Suillus luteus] at MushroomExpert.com
* [http://www.mykoweb.com/boletes/species/Suillus_luteus.html Suillus luteus] at MykoWeb