Russula krombholtzii Shaffer syn. Russula atropurpurea (Krombh.) Britz. non Pk. Blackish-red Russula. Cap 4-10cm across, convex then flattened with slight depression; dark blackish purple at center, paler, more blood red at margin, often mottled with paler, discolored areas; smooth, slightly viscid when wet. Gills adnexed, crowded; palish cream. Stem 30-60 x 10-20mm, fairly firm, later softer and easily broken; white, often becoming grayish with age. Flesh white. Odor rather fruity, of apples. Taste from almost mild to rather hot. Spores ovoid, 7-9 x 6-7µ; with warts joined by fine ridges to form a well-developed but not quite complete network. Deposit whitish (A-B). Cap cystidia abundant, cylindrical to somewhat club-shaped, without septa. Habitat usually under oak or other deciduous trees. Common. Found widely throughout northeastern North America, west to Michigan. Season June-October. Not edible. (Never eat any mushroom until you are certain it is edible as many are poisonous and some are deadly poisonous.)