Russula emetica
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 SubgenusCap red or pink, with perhaps some yellow or orange mixed in
Non-bruising Red Russula SectionFlesh not changing color when bruised, or changing to brown (instead of black)
Hot Red Russula SubSection
Russula emetica
Here are the characters that distinguish this species from the others in its group. For its more general characters, see higher up on the page.
If there's just a few words or a microscopic feature here, a more thorough description can be found above.
Diagnosis
- Cap up to 4" across; viscid to tacky; bright scarlet but fading in age; peeling 1/3 to all of the way to the center, underlying flesh pink
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Taste very acrid
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Found in sphagnum bogs under pine
- Gills bright white to creamy
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Stem often long, bright white
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Odor pleasant, fruity
Microscropic Characters
Comments
Field guides in this country used to call any smallish peppery red Russula by this name. This is the genuine species, which is limited to a specific habitat
