**Taxonomy and Naming:**
– Suillus luteus was initially classified as Boletus luteus by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.
– The specific epithet lūtěus means yellow in Latin.
– French naturalist Henri François Anne de Roussel reclassified it as Suillus luteus in 1796.
– Common names for this fungus include slippery jack, pine boletus, and sticky bun.
– August Batsch described Boletus volvatus alongside B. luteus in 1783.
**Description:**
– Young fruit bodies have a partial veil enclosing the pores.
– The cap is chestnut, rusty, olive brown, or dark brown, slimy, and glossy.
– Tubes on the underside of the cap are 3–7mm deep with tiny pores.
– The stipe is pale yellow, 5–10cm tall, and cylindrical with a membranous ring.
– The flesh is soft, with a pleasant taste and no distinctive odor.
**Similar Species:**
– Suillus luteus has a slimy brown cap, glandular dots on the stipe, and a purplish ring.
– Suillus granulatus, a lookalike, is yellow fleshed and exudes latex droplets when young.
– Both species are common, edible, and found in similar habitats.
– Good field characteristics for distinguishing them include color, texture, and presence of latex droplets.
– Suillus granulatus is yellow-fleshed and has distinct features that set it apart from S. luteus.
**Cultural Significance:**
– Suillus luteus is edible but not highly valued compared to other bolete mushrooms.
– It is commonly used in soups, stews, and fried dishes.
– The slime coating may cause indigestion if not removed before consumption.
– Often sold as a dried mushroom, it is harvested in coniferous forests and pine plantations.
– The fungus forms symbiotic ectomycorrhizal associations with living trees.
**Genetic Studies:**
– Suillus luteus and its close relatives were transferred to the Suillaceae family in 1997.
– Molecular studies show a distant relation to Boletus edulis and its allies.
– A genetic study of nucleotide DNA supported the species monophyly and low genetic divergence.
– Material of S. luteus from different regions formed a distinct clade.
– Chemical analysis revealed a closer relationship to Gomphidius and Rhizopogon than other boletes.
**Distribution and Habitat:**
– Suillus luteus is found across the Northern Hemisphere, native to Eurasia and widespread in the British Isles.
– It has been recorded in Pakistan, South Korea, and extensively introduced globally through pine plantations.
– In North America, it is found in northeastern, northwestern, and southwestern United States.
– North American populations show little genetic difference from European populations, suggesting recent introduction by human activity.
– Suillus luteus thrives in coastal and mountainous pine forests, also found in South America, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.