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Russula albonigra (Krombh.) Fr. · Russulaceae
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Russula albonigra is a whitish brittlegill whose flesh quickly turns black where it is cut. It is hot-tasting and inedible.
It is hot-tasting and inedible, and blackens strongly and immediately.
It smells musty, and its spore print is white. Its flesh first turns red and then grey-black, whereas in Russula albonigra it turns black immediately, and it tastes menthol-like and cooling.
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It has very widely spaced, thick gills.
View on the map| Russula albonigra | Crowded russula | Blackening brittlegill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cap | 5 to 12 cm wide, cream-white to grey | 5 to 12 cm, grey-white to brownish black | 8 to 20 cm, dirty white when young, later blackish |
| Underside | gills broad, white, turning grey | gills very crowded, cream-white | gills thick, very widely spaced, cream |
| Stem | white, firm | short, white, turning grey | short, hard, white to brown |
| Flesh | flesh turns deep black where cut, immediately | whitish, reddens when cut, then grey-black | hard, reddens when cut, then black |
| Edibility | Inedible | inedible | edible with restrictions |
Acidic woodland soils. From the lowlands up to the hills and mountains.
Spruce, pine, birch.
possible good main season
In mixed coniferous and deciduous woods.
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112 · 999
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.
Poison centre:
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.
Hot-tasting, inedible.
The blackening is a reliable feature.
No, Russula albonigra is not edible. It is hot-tasting and blackens strongly and immediately.
Russula albonigra grows from July to October in mixed coniferous and deciduous woods on acidic woodland soils, with spruce, pine and birch.
You can confuse it with the crowded russula and the blackening brittlegill. The crowded russula smells musty, and its flesh first turns red and then grey-black, whereas in Russula albonigra it turns black immediately, and it tastes menthol-like and cooling. The blackening brittlegill has very widely spaced, thick gills.
The spore print is white. The cap is 5 to 12 cm wide, cream-white to grey, dull and dry.
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.
