Yellow Swamp Russula / Summer / Autumn / Edible

Common names

Yellow russula, Yellow swamp russula

Scientific Name

Russula Claroflava

Family

Russulaceae

Habitat

Wet boggy ground in mixed woodland, particularly with birch. Found from July until November in boggy woodland .

Description

A bright yellow mushroom often shiny on the top that is found in very wet woodland. It is deemed on of the best eating Russula’s with a nutty flavour and a pepper bite similar to that of rocket. 

Identifying Features

Cap:

Bright egg yellow and usually shiny. Very sticky to the touch.

Stem:

White and not tapering. Should snap like a piece of chalk.

Gills:

Gills white and is attached to the stem. Crowded. Bruising grey. Brittle to the touch. Adnexed and sometimes free.

Adnexed Gill

Smell:

in-distinctive Mushroom smell

Spores:

Ochre to cream

Known hazards

None known.

Potential lookalikes

Russula ochroleuca, but this is edible, if a bit acrid, and has a duller yellow cap.
The Geranium Scented Russula (R.fellea) is grubbier yellow with a smell of geraniums and is incredibly hot when placed on the tongue.

Follow the four step Russula identification process:

-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.

Uses

In food

A good fleshy eating mushroom. Good to eat with a slight peppery heat and nutty flavour.