Russula caerulea (Pers.) Fr. Buckeltäubling, Russule bleue, Humpback Brittlegill
Cap 3–8cm across, almost conical at first, later with a pointed to broad umbo (rarely absent), livid violet, dark livid, dark wine-coloured or chestnut, hardly sticky when wet, fairly fleshy, one quarter to two thirds peeling; margin finally furrowed. Stem 40–90 x 10–20mm, white, narrow, club-shaped, firm. Flesh white. Taste mild but cap skin bitter. Gills adnexed to almost free, pale ochre, somewhat closely spaced at first. Spore print palish ochre (G). Spores ovoid, with warts or spines up to 1–1.2µ high, some isolated, others joined in chains or by a few fine lines to form at most a rather scanty network with 0–2 meshes, 8–10 x 7–9µ. Cap surface without cystidia, but scattered hyphae with sparse incrustations staining in fuchsin. Habitat under pine and frequent where these occur. Season summer to autumn. Occasional. Edible. (Never eat any mushroom until you are certain it is edible as many are poisonous and some are deadly poisonous.) Found In Europe.