Russula pulchella Borszczow (R. exalbicans of some authors) Verblassender Täubling, Bleached Brittlegill. Cap 5–9cm across, convex, later flattening or with a depression, centre greenish white or olive buff with rose, red or dull wine-coloured margin, or entirely any of these colours, firm, fleshy, slightly sticky when moist, half peeling. Stem 30–50 x 10–20mm, whitish, soon greyish, sometimes tinged pink. Flesh white. Taste moderately hot. Gills adnexed, pale cream. Spore print deep cream (E–F). Spores ellipsoid with warts up to 0.7µ high, some isolated, some joined into ridges or by lines to form a fairly poorly developed network, 8–10 x 6–7µ. Cap cystidia cylindrical, spindle-shaped or narrow club-shaped, occasionally with a septum. Habitat under birch. Season early summer to autumn. Occasional. Edible – poor -avoid. Distribution, Europe and possibly America. |