Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Birch Brittlegill

Facts
Common Name: 
Birch Brittlegill
Scientific Name: 
Russula betularum
Cap Diameter (mm): 
20-50mm
Stem Height (mm): 
25-65mm
Stem Diameter (mm): 
5-10mm
Information
Description: 

A small to medium size fungus with a pale, delicate cap and brittle white gills found growing solitary or in groups on soil, often in moist places under Birch.

Distribution: 

Frequent during Summer.

Habitat: 

Under Birch in damp situations.

Cap: 

Initially flattened-convex, slightly depressed with age, smooth, occasionally with slight radial veining, pallid rose or pink coloured, occasionaly deeper pink with buff or yellowish tinges, sulcate margin, with small warty bimps, sticky when damp.

Flesh: 

Cap flesh thin, white, granular and fragile, stem flesh is brittle, white, fragile and stuffed. Odour not distinctive, taste - hot.

Gills: 

More or less free, fairly distant, white.

Stem: 

More or less equal, sometimes slightly clavate towards the base, white, ring absent.

Additional Notes: 

Poisonous.