Brown Cap

This finely velvety brown cap, sometimes with a rosy tinge will be found growing around oaks alone or with others nearby. The cap often extends just beyond the pore layer, seen in this image as a light-colored layer at the edge of the cap (the margin). When wet, the cap may be viscid (sticky or slimy). 

The Stipe

The fresh stipe will be noticeably viscid (sticky/slimy), white mycelium, and rosy streaks that run up the otherwise light-tan stipe.
Because they are sticky, we suggest trimming off that dirt so that you don't have to wash them as much later.  

Deep Golden Pores

Here you can see the deep pore-layer that does not change color when cut or bruised. The context (inner cap flesh) is white.

Stipe structure

Other than the rosy streaks, the stipes are un-ornamented and distinctly lack reticulation, puncta, or scabers. You may notice some of the pores nearest to the stipe have been streched into a slight pseudoreticulation on the apical (top)-most region. Furthermore the rosy-cinnamon color of the stipes becomes more apparent with repeated handling.

More About The Pores

The pores will be easy to remove from the pileus (cap) with a fingernail. This is often used as a identification characteristic for many fungi.

Give 'em a Lick

A. auriporus and A. betula have another feature that separates them from other boletes with 'yellow' pores, they are tart. Unlike the tasting of many other boletes that requires a bit of a chew, a casual lick will be sour.
As with all wild mushrooms, make sure they are cooked thoroughly before consumption.

A Treat To Find

The distinctive features of this mushroom leave very few others that can be confused with it.

 Photo by Deacon Mcdaniel 

The Stipe

Perhaps the most striking feature of H. betula is the exaggerated reticulation (netting) of the stipe in bright yellow tissue that contrasts the red hues of the stipe, creating a very warm set of colors.

Cap

The caps range from 3-9cm in width in various flame-colors, but often found with a bright yellow margin. The cap is often viscid when wet.

Lick It

As mentioned above, a casual lick of H. betula will be sour. All parts of this mushroom will be tart and slightly lemony.
As with all wild mushrooms, make sure they are cooked thoroughly before consumption.