This is a unique-looking russula: it is green and develops a quilted or mosaic pattern as the button expands and unfolds. Russula crustosa is one of three relatively common russulas we can find in our area. The other two are Russula virescens, which also has a cracked cap, but differs in having no orange or brownish colorations; and Russula aeruginea, the surface of which is not cracked. All of these green russulas are good-tasting. Like other edible russulas, they do not have a shiny or a sticky cap. Rather the caps of the edible russulas have a whitish 'bloom' on them, similar to the the bloom on a fresh plum or peach. (Gary Lincoff, author of several well-used guide books on fungi, pointed out this fact to us last year at the NEMF Foray in September).