Cross section of a mushroom Lactarius ...

The image presents a detailed view of the cross-section of a mushroom, specifically Lactarius subpalustris, captured on November 14, 2021, along North Wilderness Trail within Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery, Texas.

**Key Features:**

* **Mushroom Type:** Lactarius subpalustris
* **Location:** North Wilderness Trail, Little Lake Creek Wilderness, Sam Houston National Forest, north from Montgomery, Texas
* **Date:** November 14, 2021

**Visual Description:**

The mushroom's cap is white and smooth, featuring a slightly wavy edge. The stem is long and thin, tapering towards the base where it meets the cap. Notably, the mushroom exhibits a distinctive feature - a white, cottony mass at the base of the stem, which is likely responsible for its common name, "cotton myrtle." This characteristic distinguishes Lactarius subpalustris from other species in the genus.

**Observations:**

* The mushroom's cap and stem are both white.
* The cap has a wavy edge.
* A white, cottony mass is present at the base of the stem.
* The mushroom appears to be growing on the ground among pine needles and leaves. – AI vision