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    Blackening brittlegill

    Russula nigricans Fr. · Russulaceae

    Also: Blackening russula

    Edible with cautionRisk of confusion: low

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    Identification in 5 steps

    Blackening brittlegill
    Photo: Strobilomyces · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    The blackening brittlegill is a large, hard brittlegill with very widely spaced, thick gills. Its flesh turns red when cut and then black.

    SeasonJune to October
    Spore printwhite
    FamilyRussulaceae
    1. Cap. The cap is 8 to 20 cm wide, dirty white when young, then brown to black, with a funnel-shaped depression.
    2. Underside. The gills are thick and very widely spaced, cream-coloured, later turning black.
    3. Stem, ring and volva. The stem is short, hard and white, later black. There is no ring and no volva.
    4. Smell and taste. It usually tastes mild. Taste it only after ruling out a deadly amanita: chew a small piece and spit it out.
    5. Flesh and colour change. The flesh turns red when cut, then black.

    Lookalikes

    Poor quality, edible only when very young. In Japan there is the very similar, deadly poisonous Russula subnigricans.

    Habitat & Season

    Almost all soils. From lowland to mountain regions.

    Host trees

    Beech, spruce, also other broadleaved and coniferous trees.

    Season

    possible good main season

    Mushroom regions with a daily forecast

    There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.

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    Chance near you

    How good are the chances of finding this species where you are right now? We calculate it from weather, soil moisture, altitude and forest at your location.

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    Safety

    Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. For experienced foragers only: follow the restrictions, and if in doubt, do not eat it.

    Advice for your country

    United Kingdom

    Poison centre:

    NHS 111 (England)111

    Emergency: 999 · 112

    Ireland

    Poison centre:

    National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166

    Emergency: 112 · 999

    Germany

    Poison centre:

    Giftnotruf Berlin030 19240Giftinformationszentrum München089 19240GIZ-Nord Göttingen0551 19240

    Emergency: 112

    Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).

    Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.

    Austria

    Poison centre:

    Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43

    Emergency: 112 · 144

    Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.

    Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.

    Conservation and collecting rules

    Not specially protected.

    No species-specific rule known.

    Red List Germany: Least concern

    In the kitchen

    Only very young specimens, in mixed dishes. Cook thoroughly.

    Not recommended. Hard flesh with little flavour.

    Frequently asked questions

    Blackening brittlegill: is it edible?

    Only with restrictions. Poor quality, edible only when very young. In Japan there is the very similar, deadly poisonous Russula subnigricans. Cook thoroughly.

    Blackening brittlegill: when and where does it grow?

    The season in central Europe runs from June to October. Tree partner and habitat: Beech, spruce, also other broadleaved and coniferous trees. Soil: Almost all soils. Altitude: From lowland to mountain regions.

    Blackening brittlegill: what are the lookalikes?

    The most important distinction is from Crowded russula (Russula densifolia, inedible): It has closely spaced gills. Other lookalikes: winecork brittlegill.

    Related species

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    Sources

    Photo credits

    No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.

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