''Russula rosea'' (
synonym ''Russula lepida''), known as the rosy russula, is a north temperate, commonly found mushroom of the large "brittlegill" genus ''
Russula
''Russula'' is a very large genus composed of around 750 worldwide species of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms. They are typically common, fairly large, and brightly colored – making them one of the most recognizable genera among mycologists and mushr ...
''.
The cap is convex when young, later flat, mostly bright cinnabar to carmine red; often with yellow spots and up to 10 cm in diameter. The gills are pale straw-yellow, brittle, and occasionally with a red edge at the rim of the cap. The spores are pale-cream. The stem is usually flushed carmine, but can be pure white. The flesh is hard and bitter-tasting; some consider it edible, others inedible.
Russula rosea Pers. - Rosy Brittlegill
/ref>
This mushroom is commonly found in coniferous forests or near beech trees.
Similar species
The rare ''Russula pseudointegra
''Russula pseudointegra'' is an inedible, quite rare mushroom of the genus ''Russula'', with a similar habitat and appearance to ''Russula rosea
''Russula rosea'' (synonym ''Russula lepida''), known as the rosy russula, is a north temperate, c ...
'' is distinguished by its hot-tasting flesh. Red-stemmed forms of ''R. rosea'' could also be confused with ''Russula xerampelina
''Russula xerampelina'', also commonly known as the crab brittlegill or the shrimp mushroom, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the brittlegill genus ''Russula''. Two subspecies are recognised. The fruiting bodies appear in coniferous woodlands i ...
'', but the latter has softer flesh and no woody flavour.
See also
* List of ''Russula'' species
References
*E. Garnweidner. ''Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe''. Collins. 1994
External links
*
*
rosea
Fungi described in 1796
Fungi of Europe
{{Russulales-stub