Russula brevipes

This white short-stemmed Russula ( resembling a Lactarius without the milk) is extremely common in the coniferous forests of Alberta. It is normally observed just emerging from the forest floor covered in dirt and debris. Russula brevipes have a tightly enrolled cap margin, close white gills which may occasionally be tinged with blue. Another very similar mushroom, Russula cascadensis is found in the same habitat , has the same general appearance of emerging covered with dirt but has coarse and distant gills. Both have white spores and may have an acrid taste.