The stem is stuffed, hollow, shining white.
Quite as acrid as R. emetica, which it resembles in many ways, especially the smaller plants. It can be distinguished by its thinner caps, thinner and crowded gills, more ventricose and often slightly eroded at the edge. It is generally classed among poisonous mushrooms; but Captain Charles McIlvaine in his book says: "Though one of the peppery kind, I have not, after fifteen years of eating it, had reason to question its edibility." I should advise caution. Eat of it sparingly till sure of its effects. Found in woods from July to October.
Russula emetica. Fr.
The Emetic Russula.
Figure 153.—Russula emetica. Two-thirds natural size. Caps rose-red to yellow-red. Gills white.
Emetica means making sick, inciting to vomit. The pileus is fleshy, quite viscid, expanded, polished, shining, oval, or bell-shaped when young; its color is very variable from rose-red to a yellow-red or even purple; margin furrowed, flesh white.
The gills are free, equal, broad, distant, white. The spores are round, 8µ.
The stem is stout, solid, though sometimes spongy stuffed, even, white or reddish. The spores are white, round, and spiny.