Russula amarissima

Russula amarissima Romagn. & E.-J. Gilbert. (illustrated 35% life size) Cap 5–14cm across, rounded then convex; red, darkish, sometimes with ochre tints or even cinnamon; fleshy, firm; hardly peeling. Stem 45–100×16–36mm, equal; white, flushed pink or pinkish-vinaceous in part, sometimes with brownish marks; hard, spongy in the centre. Flesh white; thick, firm; smell pleasant, slightly of flour, taste very bitter. Gills rather close, strongly interveined; white, edges near the stem discolouring reddish. Spores 7–9×6.5–8µ, ovate; warts up to 1.5µ high, connectives irregular, rarely forming a reticulum. Spore print pale cream (B). Habitat in mixed woods; late summer to autumn. Very rare on Red Data List. Not edible far too bitter to consider. Note photographed by Geoffrey Kibby.