Russula densifolia. Gillet.
Figure 157.—Russula densifolia. Two-thirds natural size. Caps whitish, becoming fuliginous gray. Flesh turning red when exposed to the air.
Densifolia has reference to the crowded condition of the gills.
The pileus is from three to four inches broad, fleshy, quite compact, convex, expanded, then depressed, margin inflexed, smooth, not striate, white or whitish, becoming fuliginous, gray, or brownish, quite black in center, flesh red when broken.
The gills are attached to the stem, somewhat decurrent, unequal, thin, crowded, white or whitish, with a rosy tint. Spores, 7–8µ.
The stem is short, slightly mealy, white, then gray, at length blackish, smooth, round, turning red or brown on being handled.
It differs from R. nigricans in being much smaller, and in its crowded gills. It differs from R. adusta in flesh turning red when broken. The flesh or substance is white at first, turning red when exposed to the air, then blackish. This plant is not abundant in this state. I found a number of plants on Cemetery Hill, where some shale had been dumped under a large beech tree. Found in July and August.