✅ Edibility Note
EDIBLE: Slippery Jack is a good edible when young and firm. Remove the slimy cap cuticle before cooking as it can have a laxative effect. The slimy texture and purplish ring on yellow stem are distinctive. Some people experience digestive upset. Always cook thoroughly.
Description
The Slippery Jack features a chocolate-brown to purplish-brown cap (5-12 cm) with distinctively slimy, glutinous surface when wet - easily peeled. Pores are yellow, not bruising. A prominent white partial veil leaves a purplish-brown ring on the yellow stem. White to pale yellow flesh does not stain. The slimy cap and dark ring are diagnostic features. Spore print is cinnamon-brown.
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat: Mycorrhizal exclusively with two- and three-needle pines, especially Scots pine and Eastern white pine. Common in pine plantations and naturally regenerated pine stands. Found in disturbed areas with young pines.
Region: Northeastern United States, Great Lakes region, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Anywhere with pine plantations, Canada, Alaska
Seasonality
Summer through fall (July-November) with peak fruiting in September-October. Often fruits abundantly after autumn rains.
Common Lookalikes
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species:
- Suillus granulatus - lacks the dark ring on stem
- Other Suillus species - various slimy-capped boletes with pines
- Boletus species - not slimy, different habitat
- Gomphidius species - have gills not pores
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