Wikipedia:Today's featured article/October 3, 2015
Suillus brevipes is a species of fungus in the family Boletaceae. First described by American mycologists in the late 19th century, it is commonly known as the short-stemmed slippery Jack. The mushrooms produced by the fungus are characterized by a chocolate to reddish-brown cap covered with a sticky layer of slime, and a short whitish stalk without a partial veil. The cap can reach a diameter of about 10 cm (3.9 in), while the stalk is up to 6 cm (2.4 in) long and 2 cm (0.8 in) thick. Like other bolete mushrooms, S. brevipes produces spores in a vertically arranged layer of spongy tubes with openings that form a layer of small yellowish pores on the underside of the cap. The fungus grows on or near various species of two- and three-needled pines, especially lodgepole and ponderosa pine. It is found throughout North America, and has been introduced to several other countries via transplanted pines. The mushrooms are slimy but edible, and are good sources of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid. (Full article...)