Generanium Scented Russula (Russula fellea) – Identificaiton

Geranium Scented Russula / Summer / Autumn / Inedible

Welcome to our dedicated page exploring the mysterious world of the inedible Generanium Scented Russula (Russula fellea).

Here, we delve into the intricate art of identification and shed light on the unique characteristics of this fascinating mushroom. While not suitable for consumption, the Generanium Scented Russula offers a wealth of intriguing features and fascinating properties.

Discover its distinguishing traits, preferred habitats, and the distinct scent that gives it its name. Although not for the dining table, we explore the potential ecological roles and other practical uses of this enigmatic fungus. Join us as we unravel the secrets of the Generanium Scented Russula and delve into its captivating allure, deepening our understanding of the diverse world of mushrooms.


Scientific Name

Russula Fellea


Family

Russulaceae


Habitat

Found growing under beech trees.


Description

A medium sized Brittle gill with an off yellow cap that grows primarily with beech trees. It is considered poisonous mainly down to its incredibly hot taste that is unpalatable through to unbearable. 

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

Identifying Features for Geranium scented Russula:


Cap:

A dull orange/yellow cap that becomes slimy when wet

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

Stem:

A white but often yellowy stem that snaps like chalk that is occasionally bulbous to the base. 


Gills:

Adnexed cream to white gills that are very brittle to the touch.

Adnexed gills


Smell:

As the name suggests this mushroom has a scent like geraniums and the taste is incredibly hot.


Spores:

white ovoid spores.


Uses

This mushroom is considered poisonous by some sources, however the taste of it is extremely hot and should be avoided. 


In food

This mushroom is considered poisonous by some sources, however the taste of it is extremely hot and should be avoided. 


Harvesting

found from August through to November in primarily Beech woodland. 


Known hazards

This mushroom is considered poisonous by some sources, however the taste of it is extremely hot and should be avoided. 


Potential lookalikes

 

this mushroom could be mistaken for the common yellow brittlegill ( R.Ochroleuca) or the Yellow Swamp Brittlegill (R.Claroflava) however these two are much brighter yellow than the Geranium Scented Russula and have bright white caps and do not smell of geraniums but have a mushroom smell. They also lack the incredible hot taste of the Geranium scented Brittlegill so by following the process below you will be able to identify them easily.

Check here for other Russula Guides

-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.

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