Cap |
2 to 6 cm diameter, often noticeably grooved
at the margin, the caps are initially convex, then expanding and becoming depressed. Very brittle.
Most are
violaceous or purple, darker in the centre and sometimes taking on a green
tinge when old. The cap flesh white.
A pure white variety, var. nivea is also fairly common. |
Gills |
The very brittle gills are adnate, white or pale cream, with toothed
edges. (This latter feature is only visible with a magnifying glass.) |
Stipe |
2 to 6 cm long and 5 to 10 mm in diameter, the stems are white, sometimes tinged yellow near
the base. The slightly swollen base is particularly brittle.
The white flesh of the stem crumbles very easily. |
Spore print |
White. |
Odour/taste |
Slight fruity odour; acrid taste. |
Habitat |
In broad-leaf woodland and sometimes also in coniferous
woodland, preferring damp, well shaded places. |
Season |
August to October. |
Occurrence |
Frequent; usually scattered rather than in large groups. |
Similar species |
- Russula atropurpurea is larger with a very dark, almost black
cap centre and pale cream gills; its stem base is rusty brown.
|