Birch Brittlegill

Birch Brittlegill Russula betularum Hora (illustrated 80% life size) Cap 2–5cm across, flattened convex, often with a central depression, margin becoming furrowed and with small, low warts; deep rose or pink, but often paler, pale dull golden-yellow to yellowish-buff at the centre or even entirely so; sticky when moist, thin-fleshed, fragile; completely peeling. Stem 25–65×5–10mm, cylindrical or narrow club-shaped, longer than the cap diameter; white; fragile. Flesh white; taste hot. Gills almost free, rather well-spaced, margin sometimes with small nicks; white. Spores 8–10×7.5–8µ, ovate; warts 0.5–0.7µ high, joined by fine lines to form a well-developed but incomplete network. Spore print whitish (A). Cap cystidia cylindrical to strongly club-shaped, with 0–2 septa. Habitat with birch, often in damp places; summer to early autumn. Common. Poisonous.