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Russula mairei

Beechwood Sickener

Status:

Common.

Meaning 'reddish'.

Cap:

4-9cm

Stem:

3-7cm

Named for Edouard Ernest Maire.

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Description

Note: we are using mairei rather than nobilis which is used in some books, Kibby (2017) believes that this species is not the type description for nobilis described by Velenovskyi. 

A commonly encountered poisonous Brittlegill (Russula) species when walking through a Beech (Fagus) wood. There are many pink/red species of Brittlegill which we advise to avoid all of them for culinary purposes, unless you are very experienced in Brittlegill identification. Still retains the 'brittle gills' but has a much more robust stem than other pink/red species.

Spores 

7-8 x 5-6.5 μm. Prominent warts and often connected.

Smell

Slightly of coconut when young and fresh, but quickly becoming too faint.

Season

Autumn.

Habitat & Distribution

With Beech (Fagus) trees and common where they occur. 

Edibility

Poisonous.

Spore Print Colour

White.

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Confusion Species

The Sickner (Russula emetica) is just as poisonous and looks very similar, but grows with Pine (Pinus) rather than Beech (Fagus).

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Tel. 07533 132 129 

Email. info@discoverthewild.co.uk

Manchester, Cheshire, Deeside & North Wales

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