Suillus collinitus
Suillus collinitus
''Suillus collinitus'' is a pored mushroom of the genus ''Suillus'' in the Suillaceae family. It is an edible mushroom found in European pine forests. The mushroom has a reddish to chestnut-brown cap that reaches up to 11 cm in diameter, and a yellow stem measuring up to 7 cm tall by 1 to 2 cm thick. On the underside of the cap are small angular pores, initially bright yellow before turning greenish-brown with age. A characteristic feature that helps to distinguish it from similar ''Suillus'' species, like ''S. granulatus'', is the pinkish mycelia at the base of the stem.
Molecular analysis has shown the species to be related to other typical Mediterranean ''Suillus'' species such as ''S. bellinii'', ''S. luteus'', and ''S. mediterraneensis''. ''S. collinitus'' is a mycorrhizal species, and forms associations with several species of pine, most notably the Aleppo pine. This tree species is commonly used in reforestation schemes and soil conservation against erosion in the Mediterranean region, and ''S. collinitus'' is often used as a beneficial inoculant to help the young trees better survive in typically harsh soil conditions.
Molecular analysis has shown the species to be related to other typical Mediterranean ''Suillus'' species such as ''S. bellinii'', ''S. luteus'', and ''S. mediterraneensis''. ''S. collinitus'' is a mycorrhizal species, and forms associations with several species of pine, most notably the Aleppo pine. This tree species is commonly used in reforestation schemes and soil conservation against erosion in the Mediterranean region, and ''S. collinitus'' is often used as a beneficial inoculant to help the young trees better survive in typically harsh soil conditions.