Species details
Grey brittlegill
Russula grisea
Traditionally edible
Photo: Kagor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A grey to olive-grey Russula with white to cream gills, a firm pale stem, and mild flesh.
Identification features
The cap is 5–12 cm wide, grey to dark grey or olive-grey, sometimes darker centrally. Gills are white to cream and brittle. The stem is white, sometimes tinged lilac or pink.
Identification checklist
Check the grey-to-olive cap, brittle Russula structure, pale gills, and mild flesh. Microscopy may be needed for precise separation of grey Russula.
Detailed features
- Cap
- The cap is 5–12 cm wide, grey to dark grey or olive-grey, sometimes darker centrally.
- Hymenophore
- Gills are white to cream and brittle.
- Stem
- The stem is white, sometimes tinged lilac or pink.
Size
- Cap diameter
- 5–12 cm
Habitat
Grows in deciduous woodland, mainly with beech and birch, in summer and autumn.
Fruiting period
July, August, September, October
Ecology
- Host trees
- Beech (Fagus), Birch (Betula)
- Notes
- Grows in deciduous woodland, mainly with beech and birch, in summer and autumn.
How to separate similar species
Russula cyanoxantha has more flexible gills, while other grey Russula overlap strongly macroscopically. A single colour feature is insufficient.