Fungus · GBIF taxon 2551447
Stinking Brittlegill
Russula foetensAlso known as Stinking Russula, Fetid Russula, Foetid Russula
Stinking brittlegills emerge from forest soils throughout summer and autumn, releasing a powerful odor resembling rancid oil, bitter almonds, or damp carpet. Their yellowish-tan caps feature deeply grooved margins and often produce clear droplets of amber liquid when young and moist. Like other members of the genus, their brittle stems snap cleanly like chalk rather than tearing into fibrous strands.
FungiWoodlandPungent
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Mycorrhizal
Predators
- Slugs
- Fungus gnat larvae
- Red squirrels
ThreatsForest clearing and soil compaction
HabitatsDeciduous and coniferous forests
Life spanFruiting bodies persist 4–10 days
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderRussulales
- FamilyRussulaceae
- GenusRussula
- SpeciesRussula foetens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Ingestion causes severe stomach distress, and wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains gastrointestinal toxins that cause severe nausea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting if consumed.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by its slimy tan cap with deeply grooved edges, cream gills, and pungent unpleasant scent.
- What to do
- Observe in place without collecting for food, and wash hands after touch or handling.
Responsible observation
- Scent identification: Take a gentle whiff near the cap to detect its characteristic rancid, almond-like odor.
- Inspect cap margins: Look for the distinct deep grooves running radially around the edge of mature specimens.
- Observe tree associations: Search near the roots of broadleaf and coniferous trees where the fungal network connects.
Close Relative (c) Björn Sothmann, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Björn Sothmann · cc-by-sa
Genus Relative (c) Sharon Squazzo, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sharon Squazzo · cc-by
Genus Relative (c) GLJIVARSKO DRUSTVO NIS, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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