Russula silvestris
Main features
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Fruits Summer to Autumn
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Grows in woodland, especially with Sweet Chestnut, Oak and Pine
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Can be found as individual specimens or in large groups
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Smells very slightly of desiccated coconut
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Cap pinky-in colour, often paler in the centre
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Slight striations visible at edge of cap
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Cap starts off dome-shaped and flattens with age
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Skin on cap peels 75 - 100%
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Width of cap is 3-5cm
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White stem between 4 and 9cm tall and and 1-2cm in diameter
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No ring/skirt
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Stem sometimes has swollen base and snaps like a piece of chalk
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Flesh is white
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Taste is very acrid (only do nibble test with Russula)
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Fairly crowded and free or adnexed gills
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Gills white
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Spore print is white
Russula silvestris
Poisonous mushroom - advanced identification
Other common names: None known
Scientific name meaning: Russula is from the Latin Russus, meaning reddish. Silvestris is also Latin and means of or belonging to a wood
Season - when will I find it? From Summer to Autumn
Habitat - where will I find it? Russula silvestris is found in woodland
Description - what does it look like?
Growth: Russula silvestris is a mycorrhizal mushroom growing in association with deciduous trees, especially Sweet Chestnut and Oak, and sometimes with the coniferous Pine. It can be found as individual fruits or in large groups
Cap: Pinky-red in colour and sometimes paler in the centre, it starts off dome shaped and flattens slightly with age. It is 3 - 5cm wide and has faint striations at its margin. The skin will peel 75 - 100% of the cap
Gills: The white gills are adnexed to free and brittle. They are fairly crowded
Flesh: White
Taste: Very acrid (Only do nibble test with Russula)
Stem: White and sometimes swollen at the base. It snaps like a piece of chalk. It is 4 - 9cm tall and 1 - 2cm wide, and has no ring/skirt
Smell: Very slight of desiccated coconut
Spore colour: White
Possible lookalikes Could be confused with many of the red Russula, and possibly a Fly Agaric if rain has washed veil remnants away
Poisonous parts All parts are poisonous
Use in herbal medicine Until recently was classed as The Sickener (Russula emetica), which has been used to induce vomiting in other poisoning cases.
This mushroom is poisonous, do not consume.
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner
Hazards This mushroom is poisonous and should not be consumed. Consumption of this mushroom will cause severe gastric distress
Importance to other species Provides food for a the larvae of a number of fly species
Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!
