Russula mairei
Beechwood Sickener
Status:
Common.
Meaning 'reddish'.
Cap:
4-9cm
Stem:
3-7cm
Named for Edouard Ernest Maire.
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.
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.
Confusion Species
Spores
7-8 x 5-6.5 μm. Prominent warts and often connected.
Spore Print Colour
White.
The Sickner (Russula emetica) is just as poisonous and looks very similar, but grows with Pine (Pinus) rather than Beech (Fagus).