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Edibility
Choice
Lookalike Danger
2 / 5
Habitat
🌲 Conifer, spruce
Season
Jul – Sep
"The porcini. Bulbous stem, sticky cap after rain. A single find can feed a dinner party."
Mushroom ID is a rule-out game. Every entry below describes something that looks similar — learn the differences before eating.

Bitter bolete (Tylopilus felleus) has PINK pore surface (king bolete is WHITE → yellow-green), a dark NET on the stem (king has a FAINT white net), and an overwhelmingly BITTER taste — taste a dab before picking a bag.
This species is found with or partners with the following hosts. Ectomycorrhizal hosts (green border) form a root-level partnership; ericoid / arbutoid shrubs (purple border) share the same mycorrhizal networks.

King bolete, spruce tips edible.

Generic conifer habitat — pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, or Douglas-fir. Shown when the species is reported from conifers without a specific tree.
The king of Colorado mushrooms. Thick white stem with a brown cap and spongy pore surface underneath (no gills). One of the most sought-after wild mushrooms in the world.
Spruce-fir forests above 9,000 ft. Mycorrhizal with Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir. Fruits after sustained moisture events during summer monsoon season.
Min Soil Temp
50°F
Moisture Need
rain 0.3in 5d
Drought Tolerance
low
Elevation Range
0–14,179 ft
Not dangerous but extremely bitter — tastes terrible. Pink pore surface when mature.
Spruce-fir and mixed conifer above 9,000 ft. Often found near Engelmann spruce.
Photograph it and log your observation on iNaturalist. The community can help confirm your ID — always get confirmation before eating.