Russula brevipes Peck
New York St. Mus. Ann. Rept. 43: 20. 1890.

Common Name: none

• Pileus

  Cap (4)6-12(20) cm broad, broadly convex with depressed center to nearly infundibuliform at maturity; surface smooth, dry, subviscid to viscid when wet, white, sometimes yellowish to brownish in age; margin plane to decurved; flesh thick, solid, crisp, brittle, white, becoming yellowish in age; odor mild, taste slowly acrid.

• Lamellae

  Gills adnate to adnexed, decurrent with age, close; color white, often pale yellow or pale tan in age; lamellulae present.

• Stipe

  Stipe (2)4-6(8) cm long, (1.5)2-3(4) cm thick, equal or tapered towards the base, solid; surface dry white, with yellowish to brownish discolorations in age.

• Spores

  Spores 8-10.5 x 6.5-9 µm, subglobose to subovoid to subellipsoid, with amyloid ornamentation of warts and ridges. Spore print white to pale yellow.

• Habitat

  Solitary to scattered to gregarious in soil of our coastal forests, often in great abundance; most common late fall.

• Edibility

  Edible, but mediocre.

• Comments

  Russula brevipes is one of the most common Russula species on the west coast, and is easily identified by its stature, large size, and white coloration which does not stain when handled. Russula brevipes var. acrior is distinguished by the greenish discoloration of the gills and conspicuous greenish band around the apex of the stipe.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Tom Duffy: Russula brevipes (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Russula brevipes (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Russula brevipes (CP)
  • Eileen's Mushroom Mania: Russula brevipes (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 87 (D), p. 88 (P)
  • Arora (1991): p. 27 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 698 (D), plate 252 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 95 (D & CP)
  • Miller: sp. 69 (D & CP)
  • Phillips: p. 108 (D), p. 109 (CP)
  • Smith: sp. 260 (D & CP)
  • Thiers (1997): p. 19 (D), plate II, fig. 9 (I)

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)