The sickener
Russula emetica · Brittlegills (Russula)
Poisonous
Recognise it safely – what matters
- Bright red cap, pure white gills and white stem
- Grows in bogs and sphagnum moss
- Only pick red brittlegills with a certain identification
Features
- Cap
- 3–10 cm, bright cherry to scarlet red, cap skin peels off.
- Underside
- Gills: pure white.
- Stem
- White, brittle.
- Flesh
- White, brittle, very hot.
- Smell
- Fruity
- Spore print
- White
Season
Habitat
Damp coniferous forests and bogs, often in sphagnum moss.
Pino, Abete rosso, Betulla
Risk of confusion
If someone has eaten it
Violent vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps; in children and older people the loss of fluids can become dangerous. First symptoms: usually 30 minutes to 3 hours after eating.
Act immediately – even without symptoms:
- Emergency number 112 if someone feels unwell.
- Poison centre: Germany – area code of the nearest city with a poison centre + 19240 (e.g. Berlin 030 19240, Munich 089 19240) · Austria +43 1 406 43 43 · Switzerland 145.
- Keep leftovers, trimmings or vomit – it helps with identification.
Never identify mushrooms by pictures or an app alone. When in doubt, ask a mushroom expert – and only pick what you know for sure.