The Stout Pink-Staining Lactarius is a mycorrhizal mushroom that associates with deciduous trees (mostly Oaks) and can be found in summer through fall. It's widely distributed in eastern United States.

Lactarius subvernalis var. cokeri exudes white latex when cut that later turns a salmon-tan color. It also bruises pink where handled or cut similar to L. subplinthogalus, though the latter is more slender and has more distant gill spacing.

July 24th, 2023 Field Notes - Indian Cave State Park

• Growing gregariously in open mixed oak/hickory woodland edge.
• Nearby Trees: Black Oak, Northern Red Oak, American Hophornbeam, Eastern Red Cedar, and distant Bur Oak and Shagbark Hickory.
• Cap white with central depression and faint concentric zoning near the margin, and lightly bruising red where damaged.
• Lamellae exuding white latex that later turns a salmon-tan color.
• Stipe tapering towards base, bruising lightly pinkish to brown (especially at base).
• Flesh turning pink (slowly maybe 5 min), less on central stipe flesh.
• Smell: Not distinctive.
• Taste: Not distinctive.