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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 |
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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 |
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