The Sickener

Russula emetica is a complex of many red-coloured species of Russula that are often difficult to distinguish apart. This complicates collecting them as edibles... one bad Russula spoils the whole pot!!

One way to shoot the gills without destroying the mushroom is to slip a small mirror under the cap and then shoot into the mirror. Gills attachment and arrangement (close or distant) is often used in identification. With mushrooms, appearances are always deceiving!! Sometimes to determine if it is viscous you have to touch it. It may be a tad sticky yet not appear that way at all.

This is most likely a Russula- all of the members of this genus, some of which are not red, snap like a piece of chalk. Narrowing down to a species without seeing the gills or knowing how hot it tastes will be difficult. It seems the cap is a little slimy owning to the litter clinging to the cap.