Acrid purple brittlegills Russula subsect. Sanguinae
inedible
They taste hot.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
The humpback brittlegill has a dark violet to purple-brown, clearly humped cap and ochre-yellow gills. The flesh tastes mild, but the cap skin is bitter.
SeasonJuly to October
Spore printochre yellow
FamilyRussulaceae
- Cap. The cap is 4 to 10 cm wide, dark violet to purple-brown, with a distinct hump.
- Underside. The gills are ochre yellow.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem is white and club-shaped. There is no ring and no volva.
- Smell and taste. The flesh tastes mild, but the cap skin tastes bitter.
- Flesh and colour change. The flesh is white.
Lookalikes
The cap skin tastes bitter and should be peeled off.
Russula amethystina
edible
It has no distinct hump.
View on the mapHabitat & Season
Very acidic, nutrient-poor sandy or siliceous soils. From lowland to mountain regions.
Host trees
Pine, especially Scots pine.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Until early November.
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.
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.
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
Ireland
Poison centre:
National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166
Emergency: 112 · 999
Germany
Poison centre:
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
Peel off the cap skin, then fry. Cook thoroughly.
Not recommended.
- Never eat wild mushrooms raw, and always cook them for at least 15 minutes.
- Use only young, fresh, maggot-free and reliably identified specimens.
- Carry mushrooms in an airy basket, not in plastic bags, and prepare them the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Humpback brittlegill: is it edible?
Only with restrictions. The cap skin tastes bitter and should be peeled off. Cook thoroughly.
Humpback brittlegill: when and where does it grow?
The season in central Europe runs from July to October. Until early November. Tree partner and habitat: Pine, especially Scots pine. Soil: Very acidic, nutrient-poor sandy or siliceous soils. Altitude: From lowland to mountain regions.
Humpback brittlegill: what are the lookalikes?
The most important distinction is from Acrid purple brittlegills (Russula subsect. Sanguinae, inedible): They taste hot. Other lookalikes: Russula amethystina.
Related species
- Ochre brittlegill Russula ochroleuca
- Rosy russula Russula rosea
- Blackening brittlegill Russula nigricans
- Charcoal burner Russula cyanoxantha
- Bare-toothed Russula Russula vesca
- Green-cracking russula Russula virescens
Sources
- Buckel-Täubling (Wikipedia DE)
- GBIF: Russula caerulea Fr.
- Index Fungorum Record 193054
- Rote-Liste-Zentrum: Großpilze Deutschlands (Dämmrich et al. 2016)
- ÖMG: Pilzschutzbestimmungen in Österreich (Stand 29.01.2021)
- RIS: Forstgesetz 1975 § 174
- DGfM: Giftnotrufe in Deutschland, Europa und der Schweiz
- Gesundheitsportal Österreich: Vergiftung durch Pilze, VIZ 01 406 43 43
Photo credits
- Photo: Matej Frančeškin · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: User:Luridiformis · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Acrid purple brittlegills: Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Russula amethystina: Photo: Gerhard Koller (Gerhard) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.