Blackening Russula; Blackening Brittlegill
This species is the most numerous of a complex of Russulas that blacken as they age. Some go through a phase of reddening first or when bruised before they turn brown and eventually black. Depicted is a cap that is showing the early stages of blackening on the cap. The stalk has been deliberately abraded to show the reddening of the tissue after a lapse of five minutes. Within an hour or so the reddened area will be dark gray to blackish. Caps of the species can be fairly large when mature, in the 5-15 cm range. They are abundant on the coast under conifers, especially Sitka spruce. There is no odor and the taste is usually mild or slightly acrid. They are to be avoided as edibles.