Mushroom a Day: #2

This is the mushroom that Ann wanted me to see specifically (she’d spotted it earlier) and the reason we set out on the “middle path” the other day on what turned out to be a mycological excursion resulting in a couple of weeks-worth of ‘shroom pix.

And I can frankly say I’ve never seen anything quite like it–particularly the iridescent sheen visible in the flesh but really jumping out with only slight tweaks of contrast and saturation. I’m betting there are some odd infrared or UV aspects to the way this thing reflects and absorbs light.

I half expected out of the corner of my eye to see giggling elves peeking from behind the trees while I grunted and squirmed and scratched my head before this strange life form in our forest.

Have you seen this particular creature?  Anyone ID it? It stands about 5 inches tall and 4 inches across. Gills are waxy and mauve in color (I’ve wanted to use that odd word for some while, so there, it’s done!)