Boletellus ananas for the species is therefore "Boletus ananas" M.A. Curtis 1848, the basionym of "Boletellus ananas". "Boletellus ananas", as the type species of the genus "Boletellus", is in section "Boletellus" that Singer based on the scaly, dry cap with red-pink tones, a marginal veil that clasps the stem when immature, and longitudinally ridged spores that are greater than 16 μm long. The genus name "Boletellus" means "small boletus", while the specific epithet "ananas" alludes to the name for pineapple, referring to the pineapple-like pattern of scales on the cap surface. The mushroom is commonly known as the "pineapple bolete". The cap
Boletellus ananas spirally arranged, faint golden encrusting pigments that can be seen in KOH, Melzer's reagent, and water. Clamp connections are absent in this species. The typical variety of "Boletellus ananas" has consistently larger fruit bodies than "B. ananas" var. "minor" Singer from Brazil and Nicaragua, and lacks the thick-walled cheilocystidia of "B. ananas" var. "crassotunicatus" Singer from Nicaragua and Panama. Although the mushroom is used as a food in Mexico, field guides list it as "inedible" or "not recommended". "Strobilomyces strobilaceus" is roughly similar in appearance because of its rough scaly cap and lacerated margin, but may be distinguished from "B.