Leccinum manzanitae

Pileus
Cap 5-18 cm broad, rounded, becoming convex, finally broadly convex to nearly plane; surface pitted with appressed fibrils, dark red to reddish-brown, viscid when moist; margin incurved when young with fragments of sterile tissue; flesh thick, white, darkening when cut, especially in young specimens; odor and taste mild.

Hymenophore
Pores fine; pallid to light olive, darker in age, staining dark-brown when bruised.

Stipe
Stipe 9-17 cm long, 2-4 cm thick, club-shaped to ventricose, white with small, black scales (scabers), sometimes bruising blue at the base.

Spores
Spores 13-17.5 x 4-5 microns, smooth, spindle-shaped. Spore print brown.

Habitat
Scattered to gregarious under madrone and manzanita from fall to mid-winter.

Edibility
Edible, but many consider it best dried.

Comments
Leccinum manzanitae is recognized by its large size, viscid reddish-brown, innately fibrillose cap and the darkening of cap and stipe tissue, a character best seen in young specimens.