Species details
Olive brittlegill
Russula olivacea
Conditional / expert preparation
Photo: bjoerns · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A large robust Russula with a variably olive, reddish, or brown cap, ochre gills, and often a pink-flushed stem.
Identification features
The cap is large, thick-fleshed, and highly variable in colour. Brittle gills become ochre. The stout stem is white or flushed pink to wine-red.
Identification checklist
Check size, brittle Russula texture, ochre spore print, gill colour, and the overall colour pattern. Microscopic characters may be needed for certainty.
How to separate similar species
Several large Russula are very similar and cap colour is variable. Identification from a photo or colour alone is insufficient.
Habitat
Mycorrhizal in deciduous and mixed woodland, often with beech and oak, in summer and autumn.
Fruiting period
July, August, September, October