They are cylindrical, and smooth or with very fine cyanophilous (stainable with blue dyes) warts.

[1] The variety albidior differs from the main type by having white to yellowish branches.

It can be distinguished from R. magnipes by its smaller size, less intense fruit body color, and its shorter spores (9.5–11.5 by 3.5–4.0 μm).

[4] R. highlandensis has larger spores (with an average length of 12.4 μm), a smaller stipe, and an aromatic odor.

Variety albidior is found in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, where it fruits in the spring.