Russula crustosa Pk. Cap 5-15cm across, convex then rather flat; pale blue-green to pale yellowish green or even ochre-yellow; dry, dull, surface cracking all over like mosaic. Gills attached, crowded to almost distant; white. Stem 35-90 x 15-30mm, soon becoming hollow; creamy white; dry. Flesh firm at first then soon soft, brittle; white. Odor not distinctive. Taste mild. Spores ellipsoid, 5.5-10 x 4.5-7.8µ; warts 0.2-0.3µ. high, isolated or with fine lines. Deposit pale yellow-ochre (D). Habitat in mixed woods, often under oak. Common. Found in eastern North America, west to Michigan. Season July-September. Edible-good. (Never eat any mushroom until you are certain it is edible as many are poisonous and some are deadly poisonous.) Comment Compare with the very similar Russula virescens (below), which differs in its very sparse facial gill cystidia and white spore print |