Milkcap

Ok great. Thank you for the help! I will go with Lactarius sp. and be fine there. ;)

You're right - and those gills are too pale for the age of the fungi - they should be yellow by then. Maybe back to 'piperatus' ?. It definitely looks Lactarius - just a matter of choosing the species... There's only a few in our part of the world (introduced). It might be a tough call remembering that determination of species differences may be based upon microscopic work. Good luck... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lac...

If this is L delicious, then are we refuting the claims made on wiki (not that I believe wiki is the ultimate source!)? Thank you for your help with this id!!

I agree with L deliciosus

Ok, I've added 3 more pictures of the stems and gills. The mushrooms were found, also, in a small stand of pines on campus. Thoughts on the mystery mushroom? :) Thank you!

Good. We're looking for some decurrent gills on a fairly thick stem. If not L deliciosus, which should have some orange color, it could still be a close relative like L piperatus (pale creamy pink)

I can get some follow up pics tomorrow of the underside and stem.

Thank you for the feedback. Wiki says this of Lactarius Deliciosus (?): Lactarius deliciosus, commonly known as the Saffron milk cap, Red pine mushroom, is one of the best known members of the large milk-cap genus Lactarius in the order Russulales. It is found in Europe and has been accidentally introduced to other countries under conifers and can be found growing in pine plantations. Michael Kuo, primary founder of the MushroomExpert website, cites Belgian mycologist Jorinde Nuytinck who determined that the mushroom is a "genetically, morphologically, and ecologically distinct European species that does not occur in North America".[1]

I think it might be Lactarius Deliciosus

Emily, have a look at the information in this link. You might recognise some of the features. Lactarius mushrooms or Milkcaps have droplets of "milk" on the underside (usually). Caps look very much like those in your spotting.
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/lactarius....

Also, check other milkcaps on PN for any from your part of the US.

This looks like a Milkcap - Lactarius sp. For mushroom identification, it would help to have a shot of the underside of cap and the stalk.

Will look for the correct ID from your area.