Russula cyanoxantha
Charcoal Burner
Status:
Common.
Meaning 'reddish'.
Cap:
5-15cm
Stem:
4-11cm
Cyan meaning blue and xantha meaning yellow.
Description
A familiar and common member of the brittlegill (Russula) family, one that is also highly variable in colour too. The cap can be shades of purple, lavender, green, grey or even brownish, with some authors recognising varities based on certain coloured caps. The fact that this brittlegill does not have very brittlegills compared to most in this family helps to identify it.
Smell
Not distinctive.
Season
Summer to Autumn.
Habitat & Distribution
Found with a range of broadleaf and coniferous species, but more commonly with Oak (Quercus) and Beech (Fagus). Found throughout the UK where it is common.
Edibility
If it can be safely identified then the Charcoal Burner is a good edible species.
Confusion Species
Spores
7-10 x 5-6.5 μm. Isolated warts.
Spore Print Colour
White.
Others in the Brittlegill (Russula) family, the flexible gills is a real feature compared to others. The negative or slightly green reaction to iron salts is also a useful feature along with the gills.