This fungus is a member of the Russula brevipes clade, and closely resembles others in the group. It is set apart by never growing larger than 9 cm broad and always having an immediate hot and acrid taste. These specimens are from Twin Harbors State Park where they were growing in a scattered pattern. Mature one were about 8 cm across and hot. The fungus develops brownish stains over all parts of the fruit body with age or handling. It emerges fairly convex, soon is flat-topped, and eventually becomes deeply depressed and vase-shaped. The close to crowded gills are attached or run a short ways down the stipe. Short gills are numerous. The stalks are quite short, in this case about 4 cm tall, and 3 cm in diameter. There is no odor, and the hot taste renders them inedible. As with all Russulas, the spherical cells comprising the fruitbody make it break easily in any direction, like a piece of chalk. These exemplars were found under Pinus contorta (shore pine). It is thought that this species is found only under conifers with which it is ectomycorrhizal.