Russula grata - Bitter Almond Brittlegill

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

Russula grata (syn. Russula laurocerasi) is an untidy fungus, often damaged before it emerges from the forest floor, and frequently with a hole in the cap through to the centre of the stipe. Crushing the gills between your fingers will release a strong bitter almonds odour and so help verify the identity of this species. Despite having one of the most attractive odours of all fungi (at least, to anyone who is fond of almonds or marzipan!), this is an inedible mushroom.

It is very difficult to find a perfect specimen of this fairly common woodland mushroom, because slugs are attracted to it - probably by the strong odour of bitter almonds.

Identification Guide

Cap	5 to 9cm in diameter and more or less flat or slightly depressed in the centre when fully developed, the caps are spherical when young. Honey brown and rather blotchy, the cap surface is viscid and develops intense radial ridges and warty bumps as it ages.
Gills	The narrow, adnexed gills are moderately close together; they are very brittle. Initially cream, the gills darken with age and develop rust spots.
Stem	15 to 35mm in diameter and 4 to 8cm tall, the brittle stems are white and solid, developing internal cavities as they age.
Spore print	Pale to mid cream.
Odour/taste	Odour of bitter almonds (some say rather like marzipan); taste can be either mild or quite hot.
Habitat	Coniferous and broadleaf woodland.
Season	July to November.
Occurrence	Frequent; often in large groups.
Similar species	Russula illota, a rare species in Britain, and considered by some authorities as a subspecies of Russula grata, is very similar in appearance, habitat and season. Only experts can tell the two apart without resorting to microscopic examination. Russula foetens is typically somewhat larger and has an unpleasant smell.