Thought the hairs on the stem would sting, so didn't touch. However, Urtica doesn't seem a match, and Laportea has alternate leaf arrangement. Noticed similar hairs on young V. alternifolia on section of stem that hadn't yet developed wings. V. occidentalis (with wings) found nearby.
Cap 10 cm, dry white, only faintly zonate, if at all, deeply depressed with inrolled margin. Stipe short, stocky. 3 cm long, 2 cm wide, white. Gills yellow-orange, dichotomously forking, close, adnate to subdecurrent. No latex though quite fresh. Odor fruity, becoming stronger like lemon. In mixed woods, predominantly pine and oak in Raleigh, NC. Spores short in height, ellipsoid or subglobose 4.0x 5.0, 6.0 x 5.0, 4.5x 5.0, 4.5x5.5. Ornamentation amyloid with short interconnected ridges, Spore prints are more orange, not as dark as they appear in photos & unfortunately wrinkled paper casts shadows.
Thank you to Henry Van T. Cotter for microscopy! ID confirmed by DNA ITS
Male of undescribed "Piedmont Ghost Firefly"
White, watery white latex.
Globose spores with amyloid 1 microm high connected rdiges - 7-9 microm diam
Mild taste slowly becoming slightly acrid
Mixed woods including pine and oak
white spore print
Growing in grass beneath loblolly pines in a public park in Floyd County, GA, US. Does not bruise when cut. Latex (slowly) stains the gills blue/green.
This group was growing out of a loblolly pine tree, on a wetland trail.