One of the best tasting Russulas but to identify it you need to know the family as it doesn’t have the brittle gills typical of the other Russulas.
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Charcoal Burner
(30 votes, average: 3.90 out of 5)
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Charcoal Burner
| Mushroom Type | |
| Common Names | Charcoal Burner (EN), Tegyll Brau Dulas (CY), Gołąbek Zielonawofioletowy (PL), Kékhátú Galambgomba (HU) |
| Scientific Name | Russula cyanoxantha |
| Season Start | Jul |
| Season End | Oct |
| Average Mushroom height (CM) | 11 |
| Average Cap width (CM) | 15 |
Please note that each and every mushroom you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.
Cap
Convex to flattening with a depression in the centre. The colour can vary considerably being olive, brown, wine, grey, purple or even yellowish. Greasy when wet.
Gills
Gills white and flexible unlike other Russulas whose gills are brittle.
Stem
White, firm and staining slightly green when rubbed with iron salts.
Flesh
White, thick and firm.
Habitat
Mixed and broad leaved woodland particularly beech. Said to grow in troops but I have only found individual mushrooms.
Possible Confusion
Other Russulas but these have brittle gills rather than the charcoal burners flexible ones.
The stems of other Russulas stain salmon pink when rubbed with iron salts whereas the burner stains slightly green.
Spore Print
White to pale cream. Broadly ellipsoid.
Taste / Smell
Good, mild and nutty.
Frequency
Very common and widespread on the British Isles, except the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Other Facts
In March 2025 the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) added 1000 fungal species to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN (Global) Conservation Status of Charcoal Burner (Russula cyanoxantha) is: LC – Least Concern, with stable population. For more information, see on the following link.
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