by Bloomsbury
HABITAT
Grows in small groups on sandy soil under or near coniferous trees. Common and widespread in Europe.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Chestnut Bolete
Gyroporus castaneus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 10cm; stem to 8cm. Cap cinnamon- to chestnut-brown; convex and smooth. Pores small, round and white, becoming lemon-yellow and bruising brownish. Flesh thick and white. Stem smooth, brittle and almost hollow.
HABITAT
Grows in small groups on acidic sandy soils in deciduous woodland, particularly with oaks. Unevenly distributed in Europe, favouring warm areas. Rare in Britain.
SEASON
Midsummer to early winter.
Bitter Bolete
Tylopilus felleus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 12cm; stem to 10cm. Cap snuff-brown; rounded at first, but often becoming inverted so that the pinkish tubes are visible. Flesh white or cream, later becoming pinky-buff. Stem thick, pale at first but darkening to approach the cap colour and covered in a brown net.
HABITAT
Found mainly in deciduous woodland, particularly with beeches and oaks. Often occurs on acid soils. Widespread but occurs infrequently.
SEASON
Summer to autumn.
Curry Milkcap
Lactarius camphoratus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 5cm; stem to 5cm. Cap reddish-brown; convex at first, becoming flattened to slightly funnel shaped, and sometimes with a small umbo (raised bump) at maturity. Flesh thin and pale rusty-brown; it releases a watery white latex when cut. Gills pale reddish-brown, crowded and running on to the stem, which is cylindrical and concolorous with the cap.
HABITAT
Grows under conifers, particularly spruces, in widely scattered groups. Widespread and quite common in Europe.
SEASON
Midsummer to autumn.
Coconut Milkcap
Lactarius glyciosmus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 5cm; stem to 7cm. Cap greyish-lilac; convex at first and later flattened. Gills pinkish-buff; crowded and running on to the stem. Flesh firm and white with a strong scent of coconut oil; exudes a white latex when cut. Stem brittle, concolorous with the cap and bruising brown.
HABITAT
Grows in damp soil under birches, occurring in scattered groups. Widespread and quite common in Europe.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Saffron Milkcap
Lactarius deliciosus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 15cm; stem to 6cm. Cap reddish-orange; convex at first, but becoming funnel shaped with an incurved margin. Gills orange-yellow bruising green; crowded and and running on to the stem. Flesh thick, firm and brittle, creamy yellow and exuding a bright yellow latex when cut. Stem short and stout, concolorous with the cap, and often developing salmon-pink blotches in shallow pits.
HABITAT
Occurs in scattered groups under conifers, particularly pines and spruces. Common and widespread in Europe; most frequent in north.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Woolly Milkcap
Lactarius torminosus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 10cm; stem to 7cm. Cap salmon-pink with indistinct darker concentric bands, and covered with long tangled hairs like matted wool. Gills cream with a pinkish flush; slightly decurrent. Flesh fairly thick; milk white. Stem short to medium, sturdy, pale flesh in colour and hairless.
HABITAT
Grows in damp soil under birches. Widespread and common.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Sweet Milkcap
Lactarius subdulcis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 7cm; stem to 6cm. Cap cinnamon-brow; convex at first, then becoming flattish with a small umbo. Gills pinkish; crowded and running on to the stem. Flesh thin and white, releasing a copious white latex with an oily odour. Stem cylindrical and concolorous with the cap.
HABITAT
Occurs in scattered groups under deciduous trees. Common and widespread throughout Europe.
SEASON
Midsummer to early winter.
Slimy Milkcap
Lactarius blennius
Cap to 9.5cm; stem to 7cm. Cap various shades of brown and greenish-grey, often with blotches of darker colour in concentric zones; rounded at first, later funnel shaped; slimy. Gills white, becoming grey; slightly decurrent. Flesh whitish; milk white, drying grey. Stem short and sturdy, and greyish-cream. Grows under deciduous trees, generally beeches. Widespread and common. Occurs late summer to autumn.
Rufous Milkcap
Lactarius rufus
Cap to 10cm; stem to 8cm. Cap reddish-brown to rusty; dry and almost always with a central umbo. Gills white tinged with the cap colour; slightly decurrent. Flesh and milk white. Stem paler than the cap. Grows with pines, especially in wet places. Common and widespread. Occurs summer to late autumn.
Ugly Milkcap
Lactarius turpis
Cap to 15cm; stem to 7cm. Cap dark olive-brown to dark grey; thick and with a central depression when old. Gills creamy; decurrent. Flesh white, browning when cut; milk white. Stem concolorous with the cap or paler, stout and short. Grows under birches, often in grass or leaf litter. Common and widespread. Occurs late summer to autumn.
Birch Milkcap
Lactarius tabidus
Cap to 5cm; stem to 6cm. Cap orange-buff, usually with a central umbo. Gills yellower than cap; decurrent. Flesh whitish and rather thin; milk white turning yellow on a white cloth. Stem tall, similar in colour to the cap. Grows in deciduous woodland, especially with birches. Widespread and common. Occurs midsummer to autumn.
Oak Milkcap
Lactarius quietus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 8cm; stem to 7cm. Cap dull reddish-brown with indistinct concentric darker and lighter zones and a central umbo. Gills paler than the cap; slightly decurrent. Flesh pale buff, thickish in the cap and often hollow in the stem; milk whitish. Stem long and cylindrical, sometimes with a tapered base, similar in colour to the cap, but darkening towards the base. Smell oily, said to be reminiscent of bed bugs.
HABITAT
Grows only in the vicinity of oak trees. Widespread and extremely common.
SEASON
Autumn.
Charcoal Burner
Russula cyanoxantha
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 15cm; stem to 10cm. Cap may be almost any colour, but is typically dull lilac. Gills white; sometimes forked, and crowded; distinguished by a greasy flexible feel when a finger is rubbed over them. Flesh white and of medium thickness. Stem average in thickness, white, hard and occasionally with a flush of the cap colour.
HABITAT
Grows in scattered groups in deciduous woodland. Widely distributed and common throughout Europe.
SEASON
Summer to late autumn.
Blackening Russula
Russula nigricans
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 20cm; stem to 7cm. Large, thick and extremely brittle russula. Cap, gills and stem all-white to cream. Gills well spaced and adnate; intermediate gills present. Flesh hard and white, initially changing to red, then blackish-brown; when cut it turns first greyish-pink, then dark grey. Eventually the whole fungus turns blackish-brown, but it is slow to decompose so entirely dark ones are most commonly found. Stem short, stout and cylindrical, similar in colour to the cap.
HABITAT
Grows in all kinds of woodland, but commonly occurs with beeches. Widespread and common.
SEASON
Midsummer to early winter.
Common Yellow Russula
Russula ochroleuca
Cap to 10cm; stem to 7cm. Cap ochre-yellow; exact shade of yellow makes it recognizable in the field once it has been encountered a few times. Gil
ls pale cream; adnate. Flesh white and of medium thickness. Stem white, greying with age. Grows with a wide variety of trees, both deciduous and coniferous, and is one of the most common russulas throughout the season. Occurs late summer to early winter.
Yellow Swamp Russula
Russula claroflava
Cap to 10cm; stem to 6cm. Cap distinctive bright yellow. Gills pale ochre; almost free of the stem. Flesh white and of medium thickness. Stem medium to tall, and white. Gills and other parts bruise grey. Pleasant smell. Grows under birches in wet boggy places. Widespread and common. Occurs summer to autumn.
Geranium Russula
Russula fellea
Cap to 9cm; stem to 7cm. Cap honey-ochre. Gills paler than cap; adnate. Flesh almost white. Stem a paler shade of the cap colour, and stout and firm. The distinguishing feature of this fungus is its marked aroma of geranium leaves. Grows under beeches. Widespread and common. Occurs autumn.
Crab Russula
Russula xerampelina
Cap to 15cm; stem to 7cm. Cap ranges in colour from brown to purple, yellow or even green. Gills pale to medium ochre; adnate, fairly thick and deep, and connected by ridges where they join the cap. Flesh white and moderately thick. Stem stout, white and sometimes tinted pink. Distinguished by smelling of crab, particularly when old. Found mainly under beeches and oaks. Widespread and common. Occurs late summer to early winter.
Bare-toothed Russula
Russula vesca
Cap to 10cm; stem to 10cm. Cap thickish, of various colours, usually pale wine to buff. Cuticle tends to shrink from the margin, leaving the gill edges exposed. Gills white; adnate and closely packed, some showing forking close to the stem. Flesh white. Stem stout, white and sometimes tinted pink. Common among deciduous trees, often beeches and oaks. Occurs midsummer to early autumn.
Primrose Russula
Russula sardonia
Cap to 10cm; stem to 8cm. Cap reddish to purple, sometimes brownish. Gills primrose to golden-yellow; adnate or slightly decurrent. Flesh thick. Stem stout and cylindrical, and white usually overlaid with a strong purplish flush. Smell often of stewed apples. Common in coniferous woodland. Occurs summer to autumn.
Beechwood Sickener
Russula nobilis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 7cm; stem to 5cm. Cap shades of bright red; first hemispherical, then convex and finally flat with a shallow depressed centre. Gills white; adnate. Flesh white and with a faint smell of coconut. Stem medium to tall, tapering only slightly upwards, and white, tinged ochre. Poisonous in quantity, causing sickness.
HABITAT
Grows under beeches. Widespread and common.
SEASON
Autumn.
Purple Russula
Russula atropurpurea
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 10cm; stem to 6cm. Cap shiny and dark, almost black in centre, and reddish or purple around the sides; initially hemispherical, later convex or flat with a depressed centre. Gills pale cream; adnate and closely spaced. Flesh and stem white. Smells pleasantly of apples.
HABITAT
Grows in deciduous woodland with oaks and beeches; occasionally found under conifers. Widespread and very common.
SEASON
Summer to autumn.
Stinking Russula
Russula foetens
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 20cm; stem to 12cm. Cap brownish-ochre and slimy, with a furrowed margin; hemispherical at first, becoming flatter with a depressed centre. Gills dirty cream; thick, spaced and adnate. Flesh white with cavities in the stem, which is short, stout and whitish. Distinguished by its strong rancid smell.
HABITAT
Grows in old deciduous woodland, usually with oaks and beeches. Common.
SEASON
Summer to autumn.
Panthercap
Amanita pantherina
Cap to 10cm; stem to 10cm. Cap pale brown; convex, then flattened, and covered with white patches of volval remains. Gills, flesh and stem white. Stem does not turn pink when damaged (as does that of the similar-looking edible Blusher, with which it can be confused). Poisonous and can be fatal. Found in the same habitat as Blusher, but much rarer. Grows in deciduous woodland, usually with oaks and beeches. Occurs summer to autumn.
False Deathcap
Amanita citrina
Cap to 10cm; stem to 8cm. Cap lemon-yellow with large white patches; initially hemispherical, then flat. Gills white; almost free. Flesh white. Stem with a ring, and swollen into a large bulb at the base. All parts have a strong aroma like that of raw potatoes, especially when cut. Also found as a white form (alba). Easily confused with the lethally poisonous Destroying Angel. Grows in many types of woodland, often in association with beeches. Occurs midsummer to autumn.
Deathcap
Amanita phalloides
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 12cm; stem to 15cm. Cap whitish with central radiating fibres of green or sometimes yellow; hemispherical, then convex to flat. Gills white (differentiating it from edible mushrooms); free. Flesh white. Stem white, usually with a ring, but often the veil that forms the ring remains hanging on the cap edge instead; stem base surrounded by a marked sac-like volva. Lethally poisonous: causes liver and kidney failure, and eating just half a cap can cause death. Accounts for about 96 per cent of fungus fatalities.
HABITAT
Occurs in woodland, usually under oaks.
SEASON
Summer to autumn.
Fly Agaric
Amanita muscaria
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 20cm; stem to 23cm. Most readily recognized of all toadstools. Cap brilliant red, usually with white spots that may be lost and the colour washed out of the cap, leaving it orange; hemispherical, then convex and finally flat. Gills white; free. Stem cylindrical and white with a ring. Poisonous: not as deadly as Deathcap (opposite) and Destroying Angel, and has hallucinogenic properties.
HABITAT
Grows mostly with birches. Widespread and very common in suitable locations.
SEASON
Late summer to early winter.
Destroying Angel
Amanita virosa
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 10cm; stem to 12cm. Cap all-white; conical at first, turning flatter with a lopsided appearance. Gills white; free. Stem white, scaly or shaggy with a volva and ring. Sickly sweet smell. Deadly poisonous: effects like those of Deathcap.
HABITAT
Grows in deciduous or mixed woodland, often among oaks and birches. Less common in south than Deathcap, but more common in north and west; in Britain most common in Scotland, where it is widespread.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Tawny Grisette
Amanita fulva
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 10cm; stem to 12cm. Cap tawny with marked striations radially placed all around the outer margin; initially ovoid, then convex and finally flat with a depressed centre and broad umbo. Gills and flesh white. Stem white and without a ring, and with a large and conspicuous volva flushed with the cap colour.
HABITAT
Grows in open deciduous woodland, particularly with birches. Widely distributed and common in Europe.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Caesar’s Mushroom
Amanita caesarea
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 18cm; stem to 15cm. Cap bright orange-red, turning yellow with age; smooth and shiny with fine lines at the margin, and hemispherical when young, expanding to convex with age. Gills yellow; crowded and free. Flesh whitish with a pleasant odour. Stem yellow with a pendulous, often striped ring; bulbous base encased in a large white volval sac from which the stem breaks cleanly.
HABITAT
Grows in deciduous woodland, particularly oakwoods. Appearance sporadic in southern Europe.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Blusher
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 15cm; stem to 15cm. Sturdy medium to large fungus. Cap reddish-brown covered with grey patches; hemispherical at first, becoming convex then flattened with age. Gills white; free. Flesh white. Stem white, turning pink, especially where damaged by slugs, broadening towards the base; it has a ring which, on its outer surface, shows striation formed from contact with the gills. Reddening of the flesh of this fungus, especially in the stem base, is diagnostic.
HABITAT
Found singly or in scattered groups in mixed deciduous woodland, where birches are present. Widespread and extremely common in Europe.
SEASON
Midsummer to autumn.
Parrot Waxcap
Hygrocybe psittacina
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 4cm; stem to 7cm. Cap and stem basically cream to yellow, but both typically covered with a slippery green gluten that persists patchily all over. Stem top remains green when the rest of the green colour has disappeared. Gills white, although they often look greenish because of the gluten collected between them; adnate. Flesh whitish.
HABITAT
Grows on grassland in poor pasture and open woodland. Widespread and common.
SEASON
Midsummer to late autumn.
