commonly known candy cap species fungus family fruit bodies brownish red caps wide closely spaced pinkish yellow gills stem long thick colored similarly cap species known california arizona mexico grows ground leaf litter near oak trees fruit bodies resembles tends grow clusters common base groups distinguishing microscopic characteristic near absence large spherical cells called common species mushrooms edible odor resembling maple flavor taxonomy species described american mycologist based specimens collected stanford_university california type collections students stanford junior university number collections winter classified section subgenus genus surface characteristics species section defined smith called irregularly cracked cracks crossing based surface numerous inflated cells paired mushroom commonly known candy cap description cap wide broadly convex flattened eventually funnel shaped slight cap margin edge initially curved curved upward maturity surface usually uneven brownish red fades orange brown age attachment gills stem attached running slightly length stem packed close pinkish yellow age darker red reddish brown gills stain different color bruised stem long thick nearly equal slightly enlarged downward dry smooth reddish brown solid stuffed filled cotton like partially hollow age flesh firm white pinkish orange stain cut latex yellowish white exposure stain tissues taste spore print white yellow mushroom edible mild taste slight odor maple american author suggests fruit bodies manner similar candy cap mushrooms despite known use ice microscopic characteristics spores spherical nearly partial complete system raised net like ridges high basidia spore bearing cells spored measure cap cuticle poorly formed layer inflated cells scattered cystidia cap somewhat unusual lacks swollen cells cap stem similar species similar appearance like latex develops strong odor maple dried smaller cap stem mild flesh latex flesh latex strongly taste fruit bodies lack additionally typically grows manner fruit bodies common base colors intense odor latex ecology habitat distribution mycorrhizal species lives association oak species fungus forms characterized external surround oak fungus receives plant plant greater access soil nutrients needed growth fruit bodies grow scattered groups ground oak usually january march appearance uncommon thought california prevalent southern state reported mexico arizona
Lactarius rufulus