Russula

Olivecrab Brittlegill

Russula clavipes

LC Least concern Edible 1 images
Taste rating

Characteristics

- Cap hemispherical when young, then convex to expanded with a depressed centre, olive-green to olive-brown, towards the margin often brown to reddish-lilac, sometimes with small concentric cracks.
- Gills adnate to adnexed, white to cream-yellow, brown-spotted when touched.
- Stem white, often with faint pink to reddish-lilac tones.
- Flesh white, yellow-brown when handled and with age.
- Taste mild, smell reminiscent of shellfish.

Ecology

Grows with pine and birch in deciduous and coniferous forest, preferably in nutrient-poor pine forest.

Notes

The shellfish smell can be weak in young specimens but often becomes more evident if the mushroom is warmed for a while in the hand. Shrimp brittlegills are among the most appreciated edible mushrooms and are especially well suited to stews and sauces with fresh dill, which brings out the shellfish flavour.

Similar species

Similar to Russula favrei but usually has a greener to green-brown cap colour. Differs from other green brittlegills by the typical browning when touched and handled.