Identification
Bright orange-red cap, stem with dark scabers, grayish tubes. Flesh white, turning violet-gray then nearly black when cut — a species trait, not spoilage.
Edibility
Edible, dense and aromatic; excellent fried, stewed, dried (the dried flesh is dark — fine).
In practice
- The darkening flesh scares beginners — it is normal for Leccinum aurantiacum.
- Under real aspen = high confidence in the ID.