Bare-toothed russula

Description

The bare-toothed russula is a medium-sized russula with a cap 4–12 cm across, pale ochre, reddish or brown-red, often with pink or violet blotches. It has white, brittle gills, a hard, white stem and flesh with a mild, nutty taste. A characteristic feature is that the cap cuticle does not quite reach the margin.

It grows from June to October in deciduous and coniferous forests, under oaks, beeches, pines and spruces, usually in numbers. In Poland it is very common, but often eaten by insect larvae.

Because of the red cap it can be confused with the sickener, which is mildly poisonous and has an acrid taste. Helpful clues are the less shiny cuticle not reaching the margin and the mild taste, but do not rely on a single feature. Do not collect mushrooms you have doubts about.

Identification features

Cap

Diameter 4–12 cm (descriptions also give 5–10 cm); hemispherical when young, then convex, finally flat, usually with a depression in the centre. Colour pale ochre, reddish or brown-red, often with pink or violet blotches. Margin first smooth, then slightly grooved. Cuticle matt (slightly sticky according to some descriptions), not reaching quite to the edge of the cap — it falls short by 1–2 mm, which is a good identifying feature.

Hymenophore (underside of the cap)

Gills brittle, fragile, white when young, mature ones with rusty spots on the edges, rounded near the cap margin. Attachment to the stem — no data.

Stem

Cylindrical, narrowed downward, solid, hard, white, yellowish or rusty-ochre at the base; height 2–7 cm, thickness 1.5–2.5 cm. Ring and volva absent (as in russulas).

Flesh

Brittle, white, in places rusty-brown in section. Taste mild, nutty (reminiscent of hazelnuts). Smell of the fresh fruiting body indistinct, of an old one — like herring. With FeSO4 orange-pink or deep salmon (descriptions differ).

Spore print and spores

Spore print white. Spores almost globose, 6–9 × 5–7 µm, with fine, sparsely distributed warts.

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. Terrestrial mycorrhizal fungus. Grows in deciduous and coniferous forests under oaks, beeches, pines or spruces; often attacked by insect larvae.

Distribution. North America, Europe and Asia; in Poland very common, always in large numbers in suitable weather. Not legally protected in Poland.

Fruiting. From June to October.

What can it be confused with?

• Russula emetica (the sickener; Polish: gołąbek wymiotny) — Mildly poisonous, with an acrid taste, more shiny; flesh less compact. The bare-toothed russula is less shiny, has firmer flesh, a mild taste and a cuticle not reaching the margin.
• Russula mairei (the beech sickener; Polish: gołąbek buczynowy) — Also a red or pink cap; the bare-toothed russula is less shiny, with firmer flesh.
• Russula velenovskyi (Polish: gołąbek ceglastoczerwony) — Detailed differences — no data.

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

• The English names "bare-toothed russula" and "flirt" refer to the cuticle not reaching the cap margin.
• The species epithet vesca means "voracious" in Latin.
• On 29 August 2014 Poczta Polska (the Polish post) issued a stamp with the bare-toothed russula (face value 3.75 zł, designed by Marzanna Dąbrowska).
• In Poland it is very common and usually grows in large numbers.