✅ Edibility Note
INEDIBLE: Russula sardonia has an intensely hot, peppery, acrid taste that makes it completely inedible. The species name 'sardonia' comes from Greek meaning bitter or acrid. While some sources debate whether it might be technically edible after extensive preparation, the extreme peppery heat makes it unpalatable and potentially causes gastrointestinal upset. Avoid consumption.
Description
Primrose Russula has purple to wine-red cap (3-10 cm), sticky. Gills yellowish. Stem white to pinkish. KEY: BRITTLE CHALKY FLESH, NO LATEX, INTENSELY ACRID/PEPPERY TASTE. Cap purple-red. Flesh white. Spore print ochre. The acrid taste is immediate and intense.
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat: Mycorrhizal with CONIFERS, especially pine and spruce. Grows on ground in coniferous and mixed forests. Often in acidic soil. Northern and mountain species. Scattered.
Region: Northeast, Upper Midwest, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, Canada, Europe
Seasonality
Summer through fall (July-October).
Common Lookalikes
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species:
- Other purple/red Russulas - TASTE TEST (nibble and spit)
- Russula emetica - similar acrid red
- Lactarius rufus - has LATEX
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