COMMON NAME: Slippery Jack.

CAP: (5-12 cm) wide, rounded when young, becoming broadly convex to flat in age; surface smooth, sticky or slimy when moist, often shiny when dry, dark reddish brown to cinnamon-brown, yellow-brown or ochre; margin rimmed with partial veil remnants; flesh white to pale yellow, not staining blue when cut or bruised; odor and taste not distinctive.

PORE SURFACE: whitish to pale yellow when very young, yellow to dark yellow or olive-yellow in age, not staining blue when bruised; pores angular, 1-2 per mm.

STALK: (3-8 cm) long, (1-2.5 cm) thick, nearly equal, solid, white when young, becoming pale yellow at the apex and often developing dingy purplish or brownish tones toward the base in age, speckled with glandular dots and smears, at least above the ring; partial veil white, with dull purple to purplish-gray tones on the underside, forming a ring; ring often large and flaring or sleeve-like, white with purple tones or dark purple, often gelatinous.

SPORE PRINT: brown.

MICROSCOPIC FEATURES: spores 7-9 x 2.5-3 μm, nearly oblong, smooth, pale brown.

FRUITING: scattered or in groups on the ground near or under pine, spruce, and mixed conifers; August-October; fairly common.

EDIBILITY: edible, although some claim it causes stomach upsets.

From Mushrooms of Northeastern North America Alan E. Bessette, Arleen R. Bessette, & David W. Fischer  Copright © 1997 Syracuse University, ISBN 0-8156-0388-6