Bloody Brittlegill

Bloody Brittlegill Russula sanguinaria (Schumach.) Rauschert, syn. Russula sanguinea Fr. (illustrated 40% life size) Cap 5–10cm across, convex, later flattening or saucer-shaped; blood- to purplish-red or rose, often with whitish areas; fleshy, rigid, or even hard; surface soon dry and matt, rough or veined; peeling at margin only. Stem 40–100×10–30mm; white, pink or red; firm. Flesh white; taste slightly to moderately hot, also sometimes bitter. Gills adnate-decurrent, narrow, forking or with cross-connections; cream or pale ochre. Spores 7–10×6–8µ, ovate; warts up to 1µ high, with very few connecting lines. Spore print pale to deep cream (C–F). Cap cystidia cylindrical to narrowly club-shaped, often teat-ended, with 0–2 septa, somewhat poorly reacting to SV. Habitat with conifers; summer to autumn. Occasional. Not edible.