Charcoal Burner

Description

The charcoal burner is a large russula with a cap 5–15 cm across whose colour is very variable: from violet, blue and pink to olive and grey, often several colours at once. The most important feature is that the gills are white, flexible, greasy to the touch and do not crumble, which is an exception among russulas. The stem is white, the flesh white and mild.

It grows from July to October in deciduous forests, most often under oaks and beeches; in Poland it is very common. It is often attacked by insect larvae.

Because of the greenish shades of the cap it can be confused with other russulas, and in the extreme case with the death cap. Always examine the base of the stem: the death cap has a ring and a bulb with a volva, the russula does not. If you are not sure, do not collect or eat it.

Identification features

Cap

Diameter 5–15 cm (descriptions also give 4–18 cm). Young hemispherical with an incurved margin, then convex, old one concave to funnel-shaped. Cuticle usually without gloss, sticky when damp, shiny in drought. Colour very variable: shades of violet, blue, pink, ochre, olive and greyish-black, uniform or mixed; according to some descriptions never yellow.

Hymenophore (underside of the cap)

Gills white, fairly crowded, of different lengths, sometimes forked, flexible and greasy to the touch, do not crumble — the only russula whose gills stay flexible even in older specimens.

Stem

Height 5–12 cm, thickness 2–3 cm, cylindrical, at first hard, later spongy, white, rarely with a lilac-red tinge. Ring and volva absent (as in russulas).

Flesh

Permanently white, fairly firm; taste mild, nutty. Unlike other russulas it does not turn flesh-pink with iron sulfate (FeSO4).

Spore print and spores

Spore print white. Spores broadly ellipsoid, 7–9.5 × 5.5–7 µm, covered with large and small warts.

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. Terrestrial mycorrhizal fungus, mainly under oaks and beeches. Grows on various soils (according to some descriptions slightly acidic, rich), avoids calcareous ones. Grows in deciduous forests, less often coniferous.

Distribution. Europe, North and Central America, Asia, Australia (some descriptions indicate that only European specimens are the true species). In Poland very common. Not legally protected in Poland.

Fruiting. From July to October.

What can it be confused with?

• Russula heterophylla (Polish: gołąbek oliwkowozielony) — Denser gills fused in a fork-like manner near the stem, olive-green colour predominating.
• Russula ionochlora (Polish: gołąbek fiołkowozielony) — Smaller, with crumbling gills.
• Russula parazurea (Polish: gołąbek chmurny), Russula grisea (Polish: gołąbek szary) — According to some descriptions R. grisea has a more bluish-grey cap and light cream gills.
• Russula olivacea, R. variata, R. versicolor — R. olivacea has a yellow spore print, R. variata is often forked, R. versicolor has yellowish, unforked gills.

Never rely on a single feature. If you are not sure — do not pick it; show the mushroom to a qualified mushroom expert.

Interesting facts

• In 1997 it was proclaimed "Mushroom of the Year" by the German Mycological Society.
• It is the only russula with flexible, non-crumbling gills (according to some descriptions).
• The former Polish name "gołąbek modrożółty" (blue-yellow russula) was considered erroneous, because the cap is never yellow.
• In Polish literature and folk names it has many names, including olszówka, zielonka and gołąbek fioletowy.