Key to Gilled Mushrooms KeyThis is a key to gilled mushrooms, that is, mushrooms having a definite cap with a fertile surface consisting of gills. The fruiting body usually also has a stem, although that may be lateral or absent (usually, then, the mushroom is growing from wood). You can use this key to identify mushrooms that you find.
Russulales SuborderFlesh without fibers, fracturing with the same sort of break as a piece of chalk
Spore and gill color limited to white, yellow, or ochre
Mycorrhizal: occuring only on the ground, and only when there are trees nearby
No ring or volva on stalk
All fleshy-stemmed mushrooms whose gills exude a latex when cut go here
Russula GenusNo latex
Cap usually brighter colored than Lactarius
Stalk usually white or tinged with color of cap
Red Russula Subgenus
Diagnosis
- Cap red or pink, with perhaps some yellow or orange mixed in
Narrow down your identification:
Bruising Red Russula Section- Stem changes color to grey or black when bruised, perhaps with a red phase first
Non-bruising Red Russula Section- Flesh not changing color when bruised, or changing to brown (instead of black)
