Boston Mycological Club

Russula virescens Fr.

Other names:

Description:

The "crackle top" colors in blue-greens is immediately recognizable. The close look-alike for this Russula is R. crustosa which produces a spore print of a much deeper ochre color, while R. virescens is much paler. Also, many notice that the gills of R. crustosa are more brittle, whereas those of R. virescens tend to be a bit more flexible.

References:

Phillips - Mushrooms of North America; page 121
Lincoff - Audubon Field Guide to North American Mushrooms; page 700 (in the comments for R. crustosa)
Barron -Mushrooms of Northeast North America; page 312
Kibby - Mushrooms and Other Fungi; page 37
Arora - Mushrooms Demystified; page 95

Images:

Collected 2001-07-15, Hingham, MA; Wompatuck State Park