These prized choice edibles were brought in by Chuck for identification. The specimens above, although actually quite young and small, exhibit typical edulis characteristics: a reddish-brown 'bun' cap, tiny white rounded pores, a bulbous stalk that widens toward the base, white reticulation on upper stalk and darker reticulation (webbing) on the lower 2/3rds.
*Steve Rock and Mark Debellis, who both know far more than I about members of the Bolete family, suggest that the specimens in the photo above are actually Xanthoconium separans (also known as Boletus separans).(See Steve's note below). I think they may be right. This just goes to show you that it is not easy, even following keys, to determine the correct identity of any particular mushroom. Fortunately, in this case, Mark at least believes that Xanthoconium separans is as good as - if not tastier than Boletus edulis. Because I don't have the original specimens I am unable to perform a simple chemical test to definitively determine the exact identy of the mushroom. But my inclination is to defer to their collective wisdom!
For more information on Xanthocaonium separans go to www.bluewillowpages.com/mushroomexpert/xanthoconium_separans.htmlhe