Russula farinipes

Russula farinipes

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

Family: Russulaceae

A less common find than other yellowish brittlegills, and most often on calcareous soil in broadleaf woodland, this beautiful mushroom is quite distinctive. Oaks, Beech and birches are common mycorrhizal partners with this mushroom.

The specific epithet refers to the surface of the stem, the upper section of which is covered in a flour-like powder. The cap and stem flesh is also distinctive, being much tougher and more elastic than is the norm for a brittlegill.

Identification Guide

Cap

Rufous yellow, becoming russet brown with age; margin sulcate (furrowed); convex, sometimes developing a central depression; grainy, esp. at margin; cuticle peels very little; 3 to 6cm across.

Gills

Pale straw yellow; quite distant; arching upwards; slightly decurrent.

Stem

White or very pale straw yellow; powdery towards apex; with cavities; 3 to 7cm long, 1 to 1.8cm dia.

Spore print

White.

Odour/taste

Odour: slightly fruity. Taste: very acrid (inedible).

Habitat

Oaks, Beech and birches are common mycorrhizal partners with this mushroom.

Season

August to November.

Occurrence

Infrequent.

Similar species

Russula claroflava has a bright yellow cap and white gills; it is found on wet ground under birch trees. It has a strong fruity odour, has yellowish gills and provides a yellow-ochre spore print.

Russula ochroleuca has ocre-yellow caps with white gills.