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.
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.

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