Russula inedible: what types of mushrooms are not edible

Many people have an opinion that Russula is exclusively edible mushrooms, because their name speaks for itself: these mushrooms can be eaten raw, therefore, they are safe. Indeed, even inedible Russula do not contain toxic substances, however, it is not recommended to eat them as food due to an unpleasant, bitter, sometimes very caustic taste.

On this page we will talk about which Russulae are inedible (pungent caustic, birch, blood-red and others), where they grow, and also show the inedible Russula in the photo.

Russula caustic (burning caustic, vomiting) and her photo

Category: inedible.

Russula caustic (Russula emetica) often called russula caustic or russula pungent caustic.

Mushroom hat (diameter 5-10 cm): red, purple, or hot pink.

Pay attention to the photo of caustic (emetic) russula: the edges of the cap are usually lighter than the center. Depending on the age of the fungus, it can be hemispherical, slightly convex, prostrate or depressed. The skin is sticky and moist, easily detached from the pulp.

Leg of caustic (emetic) russula (height 4-7 cm): very brittle, hollow, cylindrical in shape. Usually white, but at the very base can be pinkish.

Records: white, wide, medium frequency.

In the photo, a pungent-caustic Russula shows that its flesh is whitish and very thin, dense in young mushrooms, but becomes friable with age. It does not have a pronounced aroma, the taste is very pungent.

Doubles:are absent.

When growing: from mid-July to the end of September in almost all European countries.

Burning-caustic Russula can be found: in damp places of coniferous and mixed forests.

Eating: It is considered inedible due to the pungent and bitter taste, but some mushroom pickers use russula after prolonged boiling.

Application in traditional medicine: not applicable. Top view of caustic Russula

Russula mushroom blood red

Category: inedible.

Title blood red russula (Russula sanguinea) translated from Latin means “bloodthirsty” or “blood”.

Hat (diameter 5-11 cm): various shades of red - pink, raspberry, scarlet or carmine, but in hot weather it can fade to faded pink. In dry weather, dull, and in wet shiny and slightly sticky. Fleshy, smooth or slightly wrinkled. In young mushrooms it has a hemispherical shape, and in older ones it is prostrate or slightly depressed. The peel is easily removed only along the edges, wavy or slightly ribbed.

Look at the photo of this inedible mushroom: Russula blood-red has a solid, smooth leg bright pink (rarely grayish), a height of 3 to 8 cm. The shape of the legs is cylindrical or club-shaped.

Records: narrow and frequent, white or cream in color, sometimes with yellow spots.

Pulp: dense and white, without a pronounced odor, but with a sharp taste.

Doubles: Russula rhodopus (Russula rhodopus) with a pleasant mild taste, whose hat glistens even in dry weather; Russula helodes (Russula helodes) with a lighter leg, growing exclusively among mosses; Russula browning (Russula xerampelina) with a darker color and the smell of raw herring.

Application in traditional medicine: not applicable.

Other names: russula sardonyx.

When growing: from mid-August to the end of September.

Where can I find: on sandy and acidic soils of pine and mixed forests, occasionally in open spaces.

Eating: the mushroom is inedible.

Inedible mushroom Russula acridifolia (Russula sardonia)

Category: inedible.

Hat Russula pointedwort (Russula sardonia) (diameter 4-10 cm): lilac, light purple, purple, the center can be almost black or with a greenish tint.

The cap is convex in young mushrooms, and slightly depressed in adults and old ones. The edges are either even or slightly ribbed. The peel grows very tightly to the pulp.

Leg (height 4-9 cm): solid, even and smooth, pink or purple.

Records: frequent and narrow, yellow.

Pulp: yellow and very caustic.

Doubles: are absent.

When growing: from late August to early October, almost throughout the temperate zone of the Eurasian continent.

Where can I find: on sandy soils of pine or spruce forests.

Eating: the mushroom is inedible.

Application in traditional medicine: not applicable.

Mushroom Russula birch (Russula betularum)

Category: inedible.

Hat russula birch (Russula betularum) (diameter 3-7 cm): from beige or yellow to pinkish or lilac. As with the other russula, in young mushrooms it is slightly convex or hemispherical, and eventually becomes almost flat or slightly depressed. The skin, slippery in wet weather, is easily removed from the pulp.

Leg (height 3-9 cm): in the form of a cylinder or mace, usually white. Very brittle, depending on the age of the fungus, it can be either solid or hollow.

Records: white and frequent, can be attached or almost completely loose, and sometimes torn.

Pulp: white, very fragile and pungent in taste. It has an aroma similar to that of fruits, honey or coconut.

Doubles: related Russula graceful (Russula gracillima), fragile (Russula fragilis) and caustic (Russula emetica). The most elegant differs from birch in a paler color and smaller size. In a brittle peel, it is easily removed from the hat only halfway, and a caustic russula, larger and more saturated in color, grows next to coniferous trees.

Where can I find: in damp places of the forest or near swamps. As the name implies, it prefers to grow next to birch trees.

Eating: very caustic, therefore not used in cooking.

When growing: from mid-June to early October. It is listed in the Red Books of Denmark, France, Norway

Application in traditional medicine: not applicable.