About this fungus
Bitter Almond Brittlegill is a fungus in the Russulaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A sticky honey-brown brittlegill with a deeply ridged, bumpy margin and a strong almond-like odour.
What to check
Check the brittle flesh, cream spore print, cap-margin ridges and odour released by gently crushing a gill between the fingers.
Variation
Caps can be blotchy, slimy when wet and more strongly ridged with age. Odour strength varies.
Lookalikes
Russula fragrantissima is very similar. Russula illota and Russula foetens overlap in colour and build. Spore ornament often settles the identification.
Habitat and range
An ectomycorrhizal mushroom of coniferous and broad-leaved woodland in Europe. North American records require regional caution.
Food safety
Inedible.
Photographs
Photo: Bjørn Eidhammer · CC BY 4.0