This article is taken from APS Central Coast group monthly newsletter: ‘Epicris Epistle’ June edition.
“Following my talk on ‘Parts and Characteristics of Agarics”, there is a group of genera whose structure is different.”
Russula species are called BRITTLE CAPS, but I prefer to call them Crumble Caps as they crumble easily when rolled in the palms of the hands. The texture is brittle – like chalk – because the structure of the cells differ from other Agarics.
Most have pure white gills – neat and close together.
Brush Turkeys seem attracted to Russula sps. to peck but not eat, and I guess just to feel it crumble.
Russula species are many and fairly common and can appear over many months. Their mostly pure white gills look very neat and the spore print is usually white. The different species have various colours on their cap – white, gray, brown, pink, red or purple. It is important to look at the colours of the stem as well as the cap.
Getting down to species can be confusing because there are so many variations in colours within each species. First is to recognize the genera. Three common ones are:
Lactarius species are also brittle but called MILK CAPS because when fresh, they exude a milky white or clear fluid from their gills. When the ‘milk’ dries it can be seen as a solid white speck.
