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    Russula amethystina

    Russula amethystina Quél. · Russulaceae

    ✓ EdibleRisk of confusion: low

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    Identification in 5 steps

    Russula amethystina
    Photo: Gerhard Koller (Gerhard) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
    Russula amethystina
    Photo: Gerhard Koller (Gerhard) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Russula amethystina is a purple brittlegill with yellowish gills that grows under conifers. It is almost impossible to tell apart from the iodine brittlegill.

    SeasonJuly to November
    Spore printochre yellow
    FamilyRussulaceae
    1. Cap. The cap is 4 to 8 cm wide, amethyst violet to purple, and often darker in the centre.
    2. Underside. The gills are cream to ochre yellow.
    3. Stem, ring and volva. The stem is white. There is no ring and no volva.
    4. Smell and taste. It 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 is white.

    Lookalikes

    Can only be told apart reliably from the iodine brittlegill under the microscope; discard hot-tasting purple brittlegills. Edibility.

    Habitat & Season

    Acidic sandy soils in coniferous woods. From lowland to mountain regions.

    Host trees

    Spruce, pine, silver fir.

    Season

    possible good main season

    Peak in August and September.

    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. Only eat mushrooms you have identified with certainty, and always cook them thoroughly.

    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

    In mixed dishes. Cook thoroughly.

    Not recommended.

    Frequently asked questions

    Russula amethystina: is it edible?

    Yes, it is considered an edible mushroom. Cook thoroughly. Can only be told apart reliably from the iodine brittlegill under the microscope; discard hot-tasting purple brittlegills. Edibility.

    Russula amethystina: when and where does it grow?

    The season in central Europe runs from July to November. Peak in August and September. Tree partner and habitat: Spruce, pine, silver fir. Soil: Acidic sandy soils in coniferous woods. Altitude: From lowland to mountain regions.

    Russula amethystina: what are the lookalikes?

    The most important distinction is from Acrid purple brittlegills (Russula subsect. Sanguinae, inedible): They burn on the tongue after a short time. Other lookalikes: iodine 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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