Michael Davis
Russula is a large genus of fungi, with around 750 species worldwide. They are often brightly coloured and can be found in forests, making them appealing to mushroom foragers. While some Russula species are toxic, many are edible and can be used to add taste to soups or dishes. Russulas can be identified by their brightly coloured caps, white to dark yellow spore print, brittle, attached gills, absence of latex, and absence of partial veil or volva tissue on the stem. They typically grow from the ground, never from wood or trees, and can be found in moist and dry habitats. While tasting Russulas to identify edibility is considered safe, with spicy or acrid-tasting mushrooms being toxic, it is important to spit them out and not swallow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of species | 700-750 species worldwide |
| Cap colour | Yellow, Red, Brown, Greenish, White, Blackish or any shade in between |
| Cap features | Has a cuticle that can be peeled off, Striated cap edge with vertical grooves |
| Height | 6-10 cm tall |
| Stem | Meaty, usually white, with no ring |
| Gills | Brittle, Attached, do not exude a milky substance when broken |
| Veil | Absent |
| Flesh consistency | Distinctive, breaks like the flesh of an apple |
| Spore powder colour | White to cream, or orange |
| Habitat | Deciduous and coniferous forests, moist and dry habitats, grows from the ground |
| Taste | Mild-tasting ones are edible, Acrid-tasting ones are toxic |
| Toxicity | Some species can bioaccumulate high levels of toxic metals |
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What You'll Learn
- Russula mushrooms are brightly coloured, usually with yellow, red, brown, greenish, white, or black caps
- They are not dangerous but some are inedible and may make you ill
- They are usually 6-10cm tall, with gills that break rather than bend
- They have no ring on the stem, no egg sac, and no milk in the gills
- They are found in moist and dry habitats, in deciduous and coniferous forests
Russula mushrooms are brightly coloured, usually with yellow, red, brown, greenish, white, or black caps
Russula mushrooms are often brightly coloured, with caps in shades of yellow, red, brown, greenish, white, or black. They are usually between 6 and 10 centimetres tall, so they are not particularly large, but their bright colours make them stand out and easy to spot in the forest.
The Russula genus is made up of around 750 species of fungi worldwide, and they are prevalent across many countries. They are often chosen for foraging due to their abundance, which makes them a good food source, even if they are not the best-tasting mushrooms. They are also popular with foragers because they are easy to identify, and while some Russula species are toxic, there are no deadly poisonous members of the Russula family in the UK or Europe.
Russula mushrooms have a distinctive flesh consistency, which is reflected in the appearance of their gills and stipe, and normally makes them immediately recognisable. They are known as 'brittle gills' because their gills are brittle and will break if bent parallel with the cap. They do not exude a milky substance when broken, unlike the related genus Lactarius.
Russula mushrooms have no rings on the stems and do not grow from an egg sac. The stem is usually meaty, unless it has been eaten by bugs or slugs, and most have a white stem and white meat. They do not have milk in their gills like the Milk Cap family. The Russula texture is also very different from most other mushrooms, which are bendable, whereas Russula mushrooms will break.
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They are not dangerous but some are inedible and may make you ill
While the Russula genus is mostly free of deadly poisonous species, some Russula mushrooms can make you ill. There are around 750 species of Russula mushrooms worldwide, and they are distinguished by their brightly coloured caps, white to dark yellow spore print, and brittle, attached gills. They do not exude a milky substance when cut, unlike the Lactarius genus, which is closely related.
Russula mushrooms are normally fairly large, and their stipe breaks like the flesh of an apple. The gills are also brittle and will break if bent parallel with the cap. The spore powder varies from white to cream, or even orange. Russula mushrooms do not have a partial veil or volva tissue on the stem. The caps are generally very round and are usually one bright colour, including red, yellow, purple, green, white, and grey. The stems are normally stout and straight, up to 2 cm in diameter, and are normally white. They are firm but grainy in texture and snap like chalk.
Russula mushrooms can be identified by their distinctive flesh consistency, which is reflected in the appearance of the gills and stipe. They have large spherical cells, known as 'sphaerocysts', in the stipe, which distinguishes them from other mushrooms.
While some Russula mushrooms are edible, caution is required when consuming any member of the genus. Some Russula mushrooms have been known to bioaccumulate high levels of toxic metals from their environment. For example, Russula atropurpurea can concentrate zinc, while Russula nigricans can accumulate lead to a level up to five times more concentrated than the soil it grows in. The Russula subnigricans species has been responsible for several fatal cases of rhabdomyolysis in Japan, causing a widespread breakdown of muscle. The toxin responsible for this was only recently discovered in 2009 and is known as cycloprop-2-ene carboxylic acid.
Some Russula mushrooms have been known to cause gastrointestinal symptoms if they have a spicy or acrid taste when eaten raw or undercooked. This includes the red-capped species R. emetica, R. sardonia, and R. nobilis. The Geranium Scented Russula and The Sickeners or Emetic Russulas are also listed as poisonous by some sources. It is important to correctly identify mushrooms before consuming them, as even familiar mushrooms can sometimes turn out to be unsafe.
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They are usually 6-10cm tall, with gills that break rather than bend
The Russula genus is a large and diverse group of mushrooms, with approximately 700 species worldwide. They are often brightly coloured, with caps that can be yellow, red, brown, greenish, white, blackish, or any shade in between. They usually grow to between 6 and 10 cm tall, making them fairly easy to spot in the forest.
One of the key characteristics of Russula mushrooms is their gills. They typically have attached and brittle gills, which break rather than bend. This is where the genus gets its colloquial name, "brittle gills". The gills do not exude a milky substance when broken, unlike the related genus Lactarius (also known as Milky Caps). The gills are also free of any veil or volva tissue.
Russula mushrooms also have a distinct skin called a cuticle over the cap, which can be peeled off to varying degrees. The cap edge is striated, meaning it has vertical grooves along it, which match the spacing of the gills below.
Russula mushrooms are prevalent across many regions and are often found in forests. They are considered a good option for beginner mushroom foragers as they do not resemble any dangerous mushrooms and most species are either edible or non-edible but not dangerous. However, it is important to correctly identify Russula mushrooms before consuming them, as some species can be toxic or deadly.
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They have no ring on the stem, no egg sac, and no milk in the gills
Russula mushrooms are usually fairly large and brightly coloured, making them one of the most recognisable mushroom genera. They are often bright yellow, but can also be red, greenish-brown, or brown. They have gills, which are typically brittle and attached to the stem, but this varies.
Russula mushrooms are distinguished by the absence of certain features: they have no ring on the stem, no egg sac, and no milk in the gills. They also do not grow from a volva or stem skirt. The mushrooms in the Milk Cap family, or Lactarius, are similar but emit a milky latex when their gills are damaged or broken.
Russula mushrooms are usually edible and mild-tasting, but some species are toxic and can make you very sick. The Sickeners, or Emetic Russulas, are considered the most toxic in the family and will make you ill if ingested. Russula atropurpurea, Russula nigricans, and Russula ochroleuca are also toxic.
To identify whether a Russula mushroom is edible, you can break off a little bit of the flesh and put it on your tongue. If it has a mild taste, it is edible. If it burns your tongue, spit it out and throw the mushroom away.
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They are found in moist and dry habitats, in deciduous and coniferous forests
When hunting for Russula mushrooms, it's important to know that they are typically found in moist and dry habitats within deciduous and coniferous forests. This makes them relatively easy to spot, as you can simply walk through these habitats and keep your eyes peeled.
In deciduous forests, Russula mushrooms can be found near oak, beech, and pine trees. They often grow in clusters or fairy rings, so if you find one Russula, look around for more! The mushrooms may be growing directly on the ground or on decaying logs and stumps. They can also be found along the edges of trails and paths, so keep your eyes open as you walk through the forest.
Coniferous forests, with their pine, spruce, and fir trees, also provide an ideal environment for Russula mushrooms. Again, they can be found on the
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Frequently asked questions
Russulas are a large genus of fungi, with around 750 species worldwide. They are often brightly coloured with caps that can be yellow, red, brown, greenish, white, or black. They usually grow between 6 and 10cm tall and have brittle gills. They do not grow from an egg sac and typically have a white stem and white meat.
Russulas are often edible, but caution is required as some can make you quite ill. The Sickeners and Emetic Russulas, for example, will make you sick if ingested. The Geranium Scented Russula is also listed as poisonous by some sources. You can identify edible Russulas by their smell and taste—the edible ones will smell and taste edible. You can also taste the mushroom, spitting it out if it burns your tongue.
There are no deadly Russula mushrooms in Europe or the US, but Russula subnigricans, found in Asia, has been the cause of several fatal cases of rhabdomyolysis (the breakdown of muscle tissue) in Japan.
Russula mushrooms are prevalent across the world and inhabit a variety of ecosystems, including both deciduous and coniferous forests. They can be found in moist and dry habitats, usually on the ground, and appear in scattered or dense groupings.
