Russula fragilis

Russula fragilis, the Fragile Russula, is a small and extremely crumbly species. Although most have purple caps, the variety Russula fragilis var. nivea are all white. This species is inedible.

Finding an undamaged specimen is not easy, even though this is quite a commonly occurring little russula. It is acrid and inedible.

This is a very variable fungus. The cap colour can be pink, violet, purple or white. The coloured specimens have cap centres noticeably darker than the edge.

The grooved cap margin is another useful identifying feature.

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.

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Russula fragilis

Cap

Gills

Stipe

Spore print

Odour/taste

Habitat

Season

Occurrence

Similar species