The sickener Russula emetica
poisonous
It has a red cap and white gills and tastes burning hot. It mostly grows with conifers or in damp woods. Poisonous, causes gastrointestinal upset.
View on the mapIdentification in 5 steps
Brittlegills have a flat to domed cap, brittle gills and a brittle stem without a ring. Under birches, mild edible species grow alongside hot-tasting, poisonous or inedible ones. This profile describes the group of mild birch brittlegills and applies only after secure identification to species.
SeasonJuly to October
Spore printwhite to yellow, depending on the species
FamilyRussulaceae
- Cap. Depending on the species, the cap is green, violet, red, yellow or brown, domed when young and later flat to funnel-shaped. Depending on the species, the cap skin can be peeled off to different extents.
- Underside. The gills are white to cream or yellow, mostly brittle and splintering.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem is white to coloured, firm but brittle, with no ring and no volva. The absence of a ring and volva distinguishes brittlegills from deadly amanitas.
- Smell and taste. Brittlegill rule: mild to slightly hot species are edible; hot ones are considered inedible or poisonous. Chew a small piece, but do not swallow it. The hotness can take 1 to 2 minutes to appear.
- Flesh and colour change. The flesh is white and brittle; in some species it changes colour with age.
Lookalikes
Group profile: brittlegills are a large genus with many good edible mushrooms, but also species that taste hot, are poisonous or are inedible. Under birches, mild edible species grow alongside hot-tasting look-alikes such as Russula betularum. A taste test is a must, but the mushroom should still be identified to species.
Russula betularum
poisonousIt grows with birches, is pink to reddish and tastes hot. The taste test separates it from mild species. Poisonous.
Variable brittlegill Russula versicolor
inedible
It grows with birches, has a cap mixed with red, violet, green or yellow and tastes slightly hot. Inedible.
View on the mapSide by side
| Mild birch brittlegills | The sickener | Russula betularum | Variable brittlegill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cap | green, violet, red or yellow by species, domed to flat | cherry- to blood-red, glossy | pale pink to reddish | mixed red, violet, greenish and yellowish |
| Underside | brittle, white to cream gills | pure white gills | white to cream gills | cream to yellowish gills |
| Stem | firm, brittle, no ring or volva | white, brittle | white, brittle | white, brittle |
| Flesh | brittle | brittle, hot-tasting | brittle, hot-tasting | brittle, slightly hot |
| Edibility | Edible | poisonous | poisonous | inedible |
Habitat & Season
Birch woods, bogs, heaths, woodland edges. No reliable information.
Host trees
Birch, mycorrhizal fungi; depending on the species, other trees too.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Rough estimate; the fruiting period varies with the species and the weather.
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. Only eat mushrooms you have identified beyond doubt, and always cook them thoroughly.
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; individual species are on Red Lists.
In the kitchen
Use only mild brittlegills identified with certainty to species, as a mixed mushroom in pan dishes or sauces. Cook for at least 15 minutes.
No reliable information on drying. The brittlegill rule applies only to brittlegills and milk caps: do not eat hot-tasting species. The rule does not apply to other groups of mushrooms. The taste test does not replace identification to species. Indigestible raw, always cook it well.
- Never eat wild mushrooms raw, and always cook them for at least 15 minutes.
- Use only young, fresh, maggot-free mushrooms that you have identified with certainty.
- Carry mushrooms in an airy basket, not in plastic bags, and process them on the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Are brittlegills edible?
Many are, but not all. Mild to slightly hot brittlegills are considered edible; hot ones are inedible or poisonous. Identify them with certainty before eating.
What is the brittlegill rule?
Chew a small piece raw and spit it out. If it tastes mild, the species is edible; if it tastes hot, do not use it. The rule applies only to brittlegills and milk caps.
Can brittlegills be confused with deadly amanitas?
Yes, if you do not check for a ring and volva. Brittlegills never have either, and their flesh is brittle.
Related species
- Charcoal burner Russula cyanoxantha
- Bare-toothed Russula Russula vesca
- Green-cracking russula Russula virescens
- Russet brittlegill Russula mustelina
- Russula amethystina Russula amethystina
- Nutty brittlegill Russula integra
Sources
Photo credits
- Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- The sickener: Photo: Jason Hollinger · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Variable brittlegill: Photo: Ron Pastorino (Ronpast) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.