Beechwood sickener( Russula Nobilis) - Identification

Beechwood Sickener/Summer/Autumn/Inedible

James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster, CC BY-SA 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

JovanaKoturov, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Luridiformis at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Scientific Name

Russula Nobilis

Family

Russulaceae

Habitat

Beech woodland

Description

A distinctive red capped Brittlegill mushroom growing in beech woodlands, as the name suggests its not edible and causes stomach upsets and vomiting.

JovanaKoturov, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Identifying Features for The Beechwood Sickener:

Cap:

Convex to flattening sometimes slightly depressed in the middle. Bright crimson red, pale red to occasionally white. If peeled the flesh underneath is usually pink.

Stem:

White and snaps like chalk sometimes bulbous on the base.

Gills:

Adnexed white/cream, brittle and slightly connected to stem.

James Lindsey at Ecology of Commanster, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Smell:

Mushroomy however this has a very hot acrid taste to it. indicating this is a poisonous mushroom

Spores:

White

Uses

This is a poisonous mushroom and should not be used.

In food

This is a poisonous mushroom and should not be used.

Harvesting

Found July through to November. However this is a poisonous mushroom and should not be used.

Known hazards

This is a poisonous mushroom and should not be used.

Potential lookalikes

the Beechwood Sickener looks incredibly similar to the Sickener however the Sickener grows mainly in Pine woods rather than beech.

-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.