Russula rosea - Rosy Brittlegill

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Russulales

One of the most beautiful of all brittlegills, this mushroom is quoted by some authorities as being edible, but in any case great care is neccesary to ensure that it is not confused with any of the poisonous red-capped brittlegills.

Red-capped brittlegills can be difficult to identify without resorting the chemical tests and microscopy. Identifying the Rosy Brittlegill is not helped by the fact that the stems are not always flushed with a carmine red.

Identification Guide

Cap	Red or pink, often cream towards the centre; sometimes entirely cream; dry, either shiny or matt, sometimes slightly powdered. 4 to 9cm dia, convex, later flattening or developng a slight central depression. Peeling up to 50%.
Gills	Pale cream, almost free; forked.
Stem	White flesh; surface usually flushed carmine, especially in upper part; cylindrical, slightly swollen in lower part; 4 to 10cm long, 1 to 2cm dia.
Spore print	Pale cream.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive .
Habitat	Mycorrhizal with deciduous broadleaf trees.
Season	August to October.
Occurrence	An moderately frequent find, often occurring in quite large groups
Similar species	The Beechwood Sickener, Russula nobilis, is is found under conifers; it is similar to red specimens of Russula rosea but its stem is not flushed carmine.