The underside instantly darkens when scratched.
It looks like the underside is actually tan but stained red by spores. What a pretty color. I have no idea btw.
Looks and feels like velvet. Absolutely stunning mushroom.
I posted this in your other post, wanted to share here as well:
I ran through the field key in Bessettes’ & Roody’s Boletes of Eastern North America.
I think one possibility is: Caloboletus firmus.
The stalk is pretty beat up, but it seems like it might be a net stalk, so I went with Key B-3:
Net Stalks: with pores some shade of orange, tan, buff, red, maroon, brown to dark brown, or nearly black, p. 34
Then I chose:
1b. Pores not radially arranged and some shade of orange, red, maroon, or brown to nearly black → 2
2b. Pores red to orange → 5
5a. Cap whitish to grayish, grayish brown, or grayish olive; pores pinkish to red or red orange, sometimes yellowish at the margin when young, staining blue when bruised → Caloboletus firmus (p. 189)
I think that’s a match!
So does this fall under tasty, poisonous, or warps the fabric of reality?
So this one is a bitter bolete, it’s safe but unpalatable for most people. Apparently some people can’t taste the bitterness and can enjoy these just fine. I didn’t chance it.