Russula earlei Pk. Cap 4-10cm across, soon flattened-depressed, often irregular in outline, margin slightly striate when old; pale straw yellow to ochre-tan; smooth, viscid when wet, waxy; cuticle peels to one-quarter. Gills adnate, widely spaced, thick, almost waxy; pale yellow. Stem 25-40 x 5-15mm, equal, spongy within; yellowish; smooth. Flesh pale yellow. Odor not distinctive. Taste mild. Spores small, subglobose, 6-7 x 4-5µ; warts isolated, minute, usually less than 0.25µ high. Deposit white (A). Habitat usually under mixed deciduous trees. Apparently quite common in eastern states but rarely reported. Season August - September. Edibility not known-not recommended. Comment This species is remarkable in appearance, looking like a cross between a Hygrophorus and a Lactarius, very little like a russula. It is the only member of the primitive group the Archaeinae found in the United States; other members are from Africa and Madagascar.