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.
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.
| Family | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Genus | Suillus |
| Edibility | Edible* |
| Toxicity | unknown |
| Season | Jul-Nov |
| 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 |
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
Summer through fall (July-November) with peak fruiting in September-October. Often fruits abundantly after autumn rains.
Typical months: Jul-Nov
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species. The differentiator is the point — learn the one or two tells that separate them:
lacks the dark ring on stem
various slimy-capped boletes with pines
not slimy, different habitat
have gills not pores
Pin the patch before you leave it. Coordinates, photos, and field notes stay on your device — and the offline lookalike guide travels with you into the deep woods.
Download Mushroom TrackerDisclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Never consume a wild mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identification.