About this fungus
Humpback Brittlegill is a fungus in the Russulaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A purple-red to wine-brown brittlegill with a conspicuous pointed hump at the centre of the cap. It has pale brittle gills, a white stem and a dark yellow to ochre spore print, and is found with pine.
What to check
Check for a persistent pointed central umbo, brittle flesh and gills, no latex, no ring or volva, ochre spores and a pine partner. Colour and the hump are useful but not unique.
Lookalikes
Russula viscida and other purple-brown brittlegills can have similar colours but usually lack the same pointed umbo. Cap colour varies widely in Russula, and photographs cannot establish spore ornament or other microscopic characters needed in difficult cases.
Habitat and range
Mycorrhizal with pine, often on sandy soil in pine woodland, plantations, parks and gardens. It is best documented in Europe; reports elsewhere should be checked against local purple-capped Russula species.
Food safety
Edible.
Use this profile to learn what to examine and compare, not as proof that a mushroom is safe to eat. Check the whole specimen and every important lookalike before reaching an identification.