EDIBLE: Mild flavor despite fishy odor (disappears when cooked). FISHY ODOR + RED CAP + BRITTLE FLESH diagnostic. Cook thoroughly.
Shrimp Russula has purple-red to wine-red cap (5-12 cm), sticky. Gills cream to yellowish. Stem white to pinkish. KEY: BRITTLE FLESH, FISHY or SHELLFISH ODOR (like shrimp), reddish cap. Flesh white. Spore print cream to ochre. Mild taste.
| Family | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Genus | Russula |
| Edibility | Edible* |
| Toxicity | unknown |
| Season | Jul-Oct |
| Habitat | Mycorrhizal with conifers and hardwoods. Grows on ground in mixed forests. Widespread species. Scattered or groups. |
| Region | Eastern US, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Europe |
Habitat: Mycorrhizal with conifers and hardwoods. Grows on ground in mixed forests. Widespread species. Scattered or groups.
Region: Eastern US, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, 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 odor
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.