Oilslick Brittlegill

Oilslick Brittlegill Russula ionochlora Romagn. (illustrated 60% life size) Cap 4.5–7cm across, convex, later flattening, often with low bosses and somewhat irregularly waved; pale coloured, typically a mixture of dull bluish or yellowish to ochraceous pale greens, often with greyish-lilac to pale wine border; moderately fleshy; half peeling. Stem 30–70×12–20mm; white or faintly tinged violet, salmon if rubbed with iron salts. Flesh white; taste distinctly hot when young, later mild. Gills almost free; pale cream. Spores 6.5–7.5×4.7–6µ, ovate; warts up to 0.5µ high, isolated or occasionally in short chains, no fine lines. Spore print pale cream (B–C). Cap cystidia mostly club-shaped, not septate. Cap surface hyphae with terminal cell usually broadly cylindrical with rounded ends; supporting cells rectangular to somewhat inflated. Habitat with beech; summer to early autumn. Occasional. Edible. Note rather similar to R. grisea (opposite).