EDIBLE: Mild flavor. REDDISH CAP + YELLOW GILLS + BRITTLE FLESH + MILD TASTE diagnostic. Cook thoroughly.
Entire Russula has reddish-brown cap (5-12 cm), smooth. Gills yellowish. Stem white, often tinged reddish. KEY: BRITTLE FLESH, ENTIRE (non-peeling) cuticle, yellowish gills. Flesh white. Spore print yellow-ochre. Mild taste.
| Family | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Genus | Russula |
| Edibility | Edible* |
| Toxicity | unknown |
| Season | Jul-Oct |
| Habitat | Mycorrhizal with conifers, especially pine, fir, spruce. Grows on ground in coniferous forests. Northern species. Scattered. |
| Region | Northeast, Upper Midwest, Rocky Mountains, Canada, Europe |
Habitat: Mycorrhizal with conifers, especially pine, fir, spruce. Grows on ground in coniferous forests. Northern species. Scattered.
Region: Northeast, Upper Midwest, Rocky Mountains, Canada, Europe
Summer through fall (July-October).
Typical months: Jul-Oct
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species. The differentiator is the point — learn the one or two tells that separate them:
check cuticle and spore print
have LATEX
Pin the patch before you leave it. Coordinates, photos, and field notes stay on your device — and the offline lookalike guide travels with you into the deep woods.
Download Mushroom TrackerDisclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Never consume a wild mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identification.