Under live oak in mixed oak/conifer woods, somewhat of a habitat interface (open oak/manzanita woodland below on slope, more ponderosa pines above), area is below typical elevation for snow, but gets occasional snow (had not yet at this point in the winter, although did later); for what it is worth, this has been an above-average year for warmer oak woodland mushrooms in interior and southern CA. Very generic and weak fungal scent upon collection, but becoming more noticeable and mealy when aged and dried; would not say it was ever unpleasant. Cystidia abundant, a few with the trademark "harpoon" shape- these generally with smooth/straight sides, some of them with basal bulbs, but not all; none cylindrical Spores: light tannish-cream (apparently this and tinted gills distinctive among melanoleuca), very elliptical and filled with warts of irregular size and density; majority 5-6 x 7-8.5, avg roughly 5.75 x 7.75 micros