Russula ochroleuca

Russula ochroleuca, the Common Yellow Russula, is found in all kinds of woodland from mid summer through to early winter. It is edible but the tase is rather peppery.

Although considered edible when young, Russula nigricans becomes tough when older and is particularly prone to maggot infection. The flesh of this mushroom is rather too peppery for most people's liking.

This is one of the most common of all the russulas, and it is particularly plentiful in pine forests, often tucked in close to the bases of pine trees.

Unlike the superficially similar Yellow Swamp Russula (Russula claroflava), with which it is sometimes confused, the Common Yellow Russula (Russula ochroleuca) is most often found in the drier areas of forests where the soil is well drained.

Cap	4 to 10 cm in diameter, the ochre-yellow cap is initially convex and then flat, developing a slight depression at maturity. As the fruiting bodies age, the cap margin becomes striate and the cuticle easily peels back over the outer two thirds of the diameter. Most specimens remain yellow, but a few develop a green tinge to the cap. Beneath the surface, the flesh is white and brittle.
Gills	The creamy-white gills are adnexed or adnate, narrow and brittle; they gradually turn a darker shade of cream as the fruiting body matures.
Stipe	15 to 25 mm in diameter, the stems are 4 to 7 cm tall, white at first but greying slightly with age. The stem usually tapers inwards towards the apex.
Spore print	Pale cream.
Odour/taste	No distinctive odour; taste variable from mild to fairly hot.
Habitat	Coniferous and deciduous woodland.
Season	August to November.
Occurrence	Very common
Similar species	Russula claroflava is found on wet ground under birch trees. It has a strong fruity odour, has yellowish gills and provides a yellow-ochre spore print.

Cap	3 to 9 cm in diameter, smooth, non-striate and bright red or pink (very occasionally almost completely white) the cap of this species generally remains convex with at most only a shallow central depression. Slightly sticky when wet, the cap surface dries to a matt finish. The flesh red or pink immediately beneath the cuticle; elsewhere the flesh is white.
Gills	White, sometimes with a greenish tinge, the adnexed, crowded gills are very brittle indeed and easily crumble if they are handled.
Stipe	10 to 15 mm in diameter and 20 to 40 mm tall, the white stems are smooth and slightly clavate. The stem flesh is white; there is no stem ring.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Faint odour of coconut in young specimens; very hot taste.
Habitat	Under beech trees.
Season	August to October.
Occurrence	Frequent.
Similar species	Russula emetica is found under conifers; its cap becomes depressed when fully mature and the cap cuticle peels more readily. It is just as poisonous as Russula mairei and so both should be avoided when gathering mushrooms for food.

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Russula ochroleuca

Cap

Gills

Stipe

Spore print

Odour/taste

Habitat

Season

Occurrence

Similar species

Cap