Russula densifolia Secr. ex Gillet
(Crowded Brittlegill)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesRussula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill)
GenusRussula (brittlegill toadstools, russulas)
FamilyRUSSULACEAE (milkcaps and russulas)
OrderRUSSULALES (an order of toadstools)
SubclassAGARICOMYCETIDAE (a subclass of basidiomycetes)
ClassAGARICOMYCETES (a class of fungi)
SubphylumAGARICOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of fungi)
PhylumBASIDIOMYCOTA (spore droppers, basidiomycetes)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Russula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill) :
1: Russula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill)
5 Oct 2016 OSGR: SU20 50° 50’ N, 1° 40’ W Vice County: South Hants (VC 11) England
4 fruitbodies under Pinus and other conifers
Image 1: CollectionImage 2: Fruitbodies - side viewImage 3: Fruitbodies - side view (2)Image 4: Fruitbodies - top viewImage 5: Fruitbody - helves - white backgroundImage 6: Fruitbody - LS - 10 mins after cutting - natural backgroundImage 7: Fruitbody - LS - 1 min after cutting - natural backgroundImage 8: Fruitbody - LS - 2 mins after cutting - natural backgroundImage 9: Fruitbody - LS - 3hrs after cutting - white backgroundImage 10: Fruitbody - LS - freshly cut (L) and after 10 mins (R) - natural backgroundImage 11: Fruitbody - top viewImage 12: Fruitbody - top view (2)Image 13: Stipe - close-upImage 14: Cap LS - gills - close-up - enlargedImage 15: Cap LS - gills - close-up - enlarged (2)Image 16: Cap margin and gills - close-up - enlargedImage 17: Cap margin and gills - close-up - enlarged (2)Image 18: FeSO4 test on stipe (fresh) - enlargedImage 19: Spore print + Melzer\'s Iodine - enlarged - white backgroundImage 20: Spore print - enlarged - white backgroundImage 21: Stipe apex and gills - close-up - enlargedImage 22: Cap cuticle - enlarged - white backgroundImage 23: Cap cuticle - enlarged - white background (2)Image 24: Spores - magnifiedImage 25: Spores - magnified (2)Image 26: Spores - highly magnifiedImage 27: Spores - highly magnified (2)Image 28: Spores - highly magnified (3)Image 29: Spores - highly magnified (4)
2: Russula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill)
5 Sep 2000 OSGR: SU91 50° 60’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: West Sussex (VC 13) England
under Birch
Image 1: CapImage 2: Cap - in situImage 3: Fruitbody - LS - 1 hour after cuttingImage 4: Fruitbody - LS - 3 hours after cuttingImage 5: Fruitbody - LS - freshly cutImage 6: Fruitbody - LS - freshly cut (2)Image 7: Fruitbody - side viewImage 8: Fruitbody - side view (2)Image 9: Gills and cap undersurfaceImage 10: SporesImage 11: Spores (2)Image 12: Spores (3)Image 13: Spores (4)Image 14: Spores (5)Image 15: Spores - surface focus
3: Russula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill)
13 Sep 1997 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 10’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
under Lime, Horse Chestnut.
Image 1: CapImage 2: FruitbodyImage 3: Fruitbody - LS showing colour before it changesImage 4: Fruitbody - LS showing colour change after 10minImage 5: Fruitbody - LS showing colour change after 15minImage 6: Fruitbody - LS showing colour change after 30minImage 7: Fruitbody - LS showing colour change after 5 minImage 8: GillsImage 9: Old fruitbody
4: Russula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill)
7 Nov 1976 OSGR: TQ21 50° 50’ N, 0° 10’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
Image 1: Fruitbody - section - 20 mins after damage
5: Russula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill)
7 Nov 1976 OSGR: TQ21 50° 50’ N, 0° 10’ W Vice County: East Sussex (VC 14) England
Image 1: Fruitbodies - top view - in situImage 2: Fruitbody - upturned to show gills

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
() Kibby, G. 2001 Key to blackening species of Russula of section Compactae Field Mycology Vol 2 (3): 95-97, rear cover.

Russula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Russula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 5 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Russula densifolia (Crowded Brittlegill)

A fairly common toadstool associated with both broad-leaved and coniferous trees. It commences whitish or dull brown bruising reddish, finally ages black all over. The cut flesh turns reddish but soon grey, finally dark grey to fuliginous. Quite hard-fleshed the fruitbodies last well into the winter by which time they are completely black.

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