Got a photo? Identify mushrooms instantly with the Mushby app
Open the appDescription
A robust, white-to-cream mushroom characterized by its crowded, often greenish-tinted gills and firm texture. It is a mycorrhizal fungus commonly found in deciduous and coniferous forests.
How to Identify
- Cap
- 5-15 cm diameter, concave to funnel-shaped, matte white to cream, often stained brown.
- Gills
- Decurrent, very crowded, white or cream often with a distinct blue-green tint near the cap margin.
- Stem
- Short, thick, solid, white, smooth to slightly wrinkled.
- Flesh
- Firm, white, unchanging, with a mild to slightly acrid taste.
- Fruiting body
- Solid, firm, and medium to large sized.
- Habitat
- Mycorrhizal with deciduous and coniferous trees, typically in mossy or woodland areas.
Key Facts
- Cap surfaces: Matte, velvety, often depressed or funnel-shaped
- Growth Form: Solitary or in small groups
- Spore Print: White to cream
- Body color: White to cream with green tinting on gills
- Odor: Mild, fruity
- Flesh bruises: No significant color change
- Height: 3-8 cm
- Cap Diameter: 5-15 cm
- Nutrient gathering: Ectomycorrhizal
Safe
SafeEdible but must be thoroughly cooked. Consuming raw may cause gastrointestinal upset due to its mild acridity.
Quick Check
- Odor: Faint, pleasant, or slightly fruity
- Fruiting: Summer to Autumn
- Substrate: Soil in mycorrhizal association with trees
Where to Find
Europe
Widespread across the continent, frequently found in broad-leaved forests.
North America
Reported in various temperate regions, often associating with oak and pine.
Finding Tips
Look for gills
Check for the distinct greenish tinge on the gills, which differentiates it from the pure white gills of R. delica.
Seasonality
Primarily fruits from mid-summer through late autumn.
Similar Species
Russula delica
Russula
Also known as: Short-stemmed Russula
Lactarius vellereus
Lactarius
Also known as: Fleecy Milk-cap
Scientific Classification
- Phylum
- Basidiomycota
- Class
- Agaricomycetes
- Order
- Russulales
- Family
- Russulaceae
- Genus
- Russula
Storage Information
- Max Temperature: 4C
- Freezing duration: Not recommended
- Min Temperature: 1C
- Refrigeration: 3-5 days
How to Clean
Gently brush off soil and debris from the cap and base. Use a damp cloth to wipe stubborn dirt. Avoid soaking as the porous flesh absorbs water easily.
Explore Ghostly Russula
Identify mushrooms anywhere
Free on iOS, Android, and Web. Photo identification, full database, and your personal collection.