Slippery Jack Suillus luteus
edible with restrictions
It has a membranous ring on the stem, which Suillus collinitus does not. This is the most important feature. Edible with restrictions; peel off the cap skin.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
Suillus collinitus is a slippery jack with a light to dark brown, slimy cap with radial fibres embedded in the skin, and yellow tubes. The stem has no ring, but it does have droplets, and its base is coloured pink. It grows with pines, preferring chalk, until the first frosts.
SeasonSeptember to November
Spore printbrown to ochre-brown
FamilySuillaceae
- Cap. The cap measures about 3 to 10 cm, is light to dark brown, with radial fibres embedded in the skin, and slimy.
- Underside. The tubes are pale yellow and later olive-yellow.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem measures about 4 to 7 cm and bears clear to amber-yellow droplets. The stem base and the mycelium are pink. There is no ring.
- Smell and taste. The smell is inconspicuous, and the taste is mild.
- Flesh and colour change. The flesh is pale yellowish. The pink colour of the stem base is an identification feature.
Lookalikes
Suillus collinitus is an edible slippery jack that grows with pines and is only moderate in flavour. It is similar to the slippery Jack, but has no ring. The cap skin should be peeled off before eating.
Weeping bolete Suillus granulatus
edible
The stem is covered in granules and has milky droplets, and the stem base is not pink. The cap is paler and slimy. Also edible.
View on the mapVelvet bolete Suillus variegatus
edible
It has a dry, felty cap and a stem without a ring. The cap is not slimy as in Suillus collinitus. Also edible.
View on the mapSide by side
| Suillus collinitus | Slippery Jack | Weeping bolete | Velvet bolete | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cap | 3 to 10 cm, light to dark brown, slimy | yellow- to chocolate-brown, slimy | yellow-brown, slimy, fading | yellow-brown, dry, felty |
| Underside | pale yellow, later olive-yellow tubes | yellow tubes, with shreds of skin when young | pale yellow tubes, milky drops | yellowish to olive-yellow tubes |
| Stem | 4 to 7 cm, no ring, pink base | with a membranous ring | with granules, no ring | no ring, not slimy |
| Flesh | soft, slimy | soft, slimy | soft, slimy | firm, not slimy |
| Edibility | Edible | edible with restrictions | edible | edible |
Habitat & Season
Pine woods, preferring chalk. No reliable information.
Host trees
Pine, mycorrhizal fungus.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Rough estimate; the mushroom grows until the first frosts and depends on the weather.
Mushroom regions with a daily forecast
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
Chance near you
How good are the chances of finding this species where you are right now? We calculate it from weather, soil moisture, altitude and forest at your location.
Safety
Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Only eat mushrooms you have identified beyond doubt, and always cook them thoroughly.
Advice for your country
Ireland
Poison centre:
National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166
Emergency: 112 · 999
Germany
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112
Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).
Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.
Austria
Poison centre:
Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43
Emergency: 112 · 144
Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.
Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.
Conservation and collecting rules
Not specially protected.
In the kitchen
Peel off the cap skin, cut the mushroom into slices and fry or braise. The flavour is only moderate, so it is good as a mixed mushroom. Cook for at least 15 minutes.
No reliable information on drying. The slimy cap skin can cause stomach upset, so peel it off. Indigestible raw, always cook it well.
- Never eat wild mushrooms raw, and always cook them for at least 15 minutes.
- Use only young, fresh, maggot-free mushrooms that you have identified with certainty.
- Carry mushrooms in an airy basket, not in plastic bags, and process them on the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Suillus collinitus edible?
Yes, it is considered edible, but the flavour is only moderate. The cap skin should be peeled off.
How do I tell it from the slippery Jack?
The slippery Jack has a membranous ring on the stem; Suillus collinitus does not. In addition, the stem base of Suillus collinitus is coloured pink.
Where does Suillus collinitus grow?
With pines, preferring chalky soil, from September until the first frosts.
Related species
- Larch bolete Suillus grevillei
- Velvet bolete Suillus variegatus
- Bovine bolete Suillus bovinus
- Slippery Jack Suillus luteus
- Cep Boletus edulis
- Golden chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ringloser Butterpilz
- GBIF: Suillus collinitus (Fr.) Kuntze
- Index Fungorum: Namensabfrage Suillus collinitus
Photo credits
- Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Slippery Jack: Photo: Jerzy Opioła, edited by Ak ccm (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Weeping bolete: Photo: Andreas Kunze · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Velvet bolete: Photo: Alfonso Garmendia · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.