How to identify Crab brittlegill

To correctly identify Crab brittlegill (Russula xerampelina), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   The cap is convex when young, flattening with age, and often develops a shallow depression. The color is typically reddish, ranging from deep red to pinkish-red, and may have yellowish or brownish tints. The surface is smooth and slightly sticky when moist, becoming dry with age. The margin is often slightly wrinkled or furrowed.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   The gills are white to pale cream, close together, and slightly brittle. They are adnexed to free, meaning they are narrowly attached to the stem or not attached at all.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   The stem is white, flushed with red, and cylindrical to club-shaped. The surface is dry and smooth. It is solid, not hollow.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   The flesh is white, sometimes with a reddish tint, and firm. It has a distinctive shellfish-like odor, especially when cut or crushed.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   Medium to large size, with a reddish cap, white to pale cream gills, and a white stalk flushed with red. The shellfish-like odor is a key identifying feature.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Found in coniferous woodlands, typically under pine and spruce trees. It fruits in late summer and autumn.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Smooth, slightly sticky when moist

Growth Form

Solitary or scattered

Spore Print

White to pale cream

Body color

White, flushed with red

Odor

Shellfish-like

Flesh bruises

Not applicable

Height

5-8 cm

Cap Diameter

5-10 cm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Adnexed to free
• Stem shape: Cylindrical to club-shaped
• Stem surface: Dry, smooth
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Solid

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