Suillus placidus

The cap of Suillus placidus is hemispherical when young, later becoming convex. It is ivory white in colour and very slimy, growing to 10 cm in diameter. The stem is slender, ringless and ivory white with grey granular dots or blotches near the top. The soft flesh is yellowish white with a mild taste. The spores are ochre. Suillus placidus is found in Asia, Europe and North America occurring exclusively alongside species of five-needled pine of the subgenus Strobus. The ectomycorrhizal association is beneficial for both fungus and tree, and is a form of symbiosis. In Asia, it is known to occur in the Russian Far East with Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica), Siberian dwarf pine (P. pumila) and Korean pine (P. koraiensis).