Green Cracked Brittlegill ( Russula Virescens)- Identification

Green Cracked Brittlegill/Summer/Autumn/Edible

I. G. Safonov (IGSafonov), CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Szabi237, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Paffka, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

A.Aguilera, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

amadej trnkoczy (amadej), CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Scientific Name

Russula Virescens

Family

Russalaceae

Habitat

Found mainly in broad leaved woodland especially with Oak and Beech sometimes with Pine

Description

An uncommon member of the Russula family that is found in the late summer and autumn. It has a green cap that has cracks towards the edges and grey or tan spots on the top.

Szabi237, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Identifying Features for Green Cracked Brittlegill:

Cap:

Green and tan cracked areas towards the edges, on top of a white/cream background. Convex then opening flat

Paffka, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Stem:

white and snaps like stick of chalk

Gills:

Adnexed white/cream gills that are fairly crowded and brittle when handled.

amadej trnkoczy (amadej), CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Smell:

Slight mushroomy smell.

Spores:

White to cream

Uses

good whilst fresh however better dried for infusing a rich mushroom flavour.

In food

Good tasting mushroom however the taste is improved by drying the mushroom. where it can then be used to create rich tasting stock for soups, ramens and stews.

Harvesting

found mainly with oak and beech from September through to November.

Known hazards

No other mushrooms look like this, even in the Russula family. however you should always apply the four step Russula test.

Potential lookalikes

It is difficult to confuse this mushroom with any other Russula however you should go through the four step Russula check:
-Snap – Does the stem snap like a piece of chalk?
-Flick – Do the gills break when you flick them gently?
-Peel – Does the skin on the cap peel away?
-Taste– this should only be done when you have gone through the other steps and are confident that you have a Russula. If a tiny amount placed on the tongue a chilli like burn or tingle means the mushroom is poisonous but a pleasant mushroomy taste means it is edible.