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
Yellow to Brownish Russula Subgenus
Diagnosis
- Cap entirely yellow or light brown
Narrow down your identification:
Non-smelly Yellow Russula Section- Not foul-smelling or smelling of marzipan,
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but it may have a fruity or other kind of odor
Smelly Yellow Russula Section- Smelling either sweet (like almonds or marzipan), or extremely foul
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Cap color various shades of yellowish brown
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Gills close; often stained or spotted some shade of brown
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Stem large, firm; usually stained some shade of brown at the base
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Taste acrid
