Russula ID help please

[BROCSMAN]

This Russula was found in Shropshire yesterday. The cap was about 4cm across, vinous with a greenish centre (see photo). The stipe was flushed pink, and the spore print was very yellow, almost like mustard powder. The cap peeled almost entirely. The taste was mild.

The flesh flushed pale pink with Ferrous Sulphate (not rusty), and there was an immediate and dramatic bluing with Gaiac.

The spores are globose and warted as you'd expect, but my microscope skills aren't great. I think they're about 7.5 mu across.

Sorry - I failed to photograph it in situ. It was in mixed woodland, with conifer and broadleaf present.

I have failed to key it out using Geoffrey Kibby's key.

Help please.

[diggleken]

Hi Brocsman, I'm rubbish with these, but have you considered yellowing brittlegill, Russula puellaris?
There are some characteristics that seem right, including habitat, but I've no idea on microscopy, spore structure etc
Cheers
Ken

[BROCSMAN]

Thanks Ken

Looks good until I think about the stipe. It was very clearly pink, no sign of yellowing with age. I've been told it's an important factor in ID, but I'm prepared to be told otherwise.

[diggleken]

Ah, of course!
Russula sardonia?
Thats my last efort before I make a fool of myself!
Cheers
Ken

[fairplay]

If you're using chemicals in the field, then you're ahead of me when it comes to Russula's.
Purely photo-wise, R.gilvescens could also be considered although it is northern and rather rare. Unfortunately your spore photo does not really assist as the connecting network between the warts is not shown nor do we know the exact measurements.

Many Russula spp. have caps with a mixture of green and red, so I wouldn't pin your hopes very high with an ID.

Neil.

[Chris Yeates]

Russulae - Caedite eos! Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius

C

[diggleken]

I'm not sure eradicating them would help Chris, but I take your point.
Cheers
Ken

[mollisia]

Hello Brocsman,

it would be easier to identify if there would be an exacter ecological characterisation, such as possible mycorrhiza partners. In this case, I would like to know if it is possible that there was birch nearby. It could well be, that your Russula is Russula nitida. Sporeprint colour and what one can see of the spore ornamentation would suite, also the mild taste. Wouldn't be the reddish stipe, I had also thought of R. nauseosa, but besides that stipe flush the cap surface is also a bit to brilliant for nauseosa.
But R. nitida only grows with birch, on usually quite wet ground, usually sandy and acid to neutral.

best regards,
Andreas

[BROCSMAN]

Thanks for all the feedback. R. Sardonia looks wrong because the flesh was definitely mild to taste. R. nitida looks more like it, this was in a Forestry Commission site, on the edge of conifer, but there was plenty of birch around, in a dampish spot with spagnum.

Thanks again.

[Andy Overall]

I would be looking at R. nitida for this. With Birch. Where does it go wrong in Geoffrey's key?

Andy