Russula lepida Rosy Brittlegill

A beautiful, aptly named, rosy red or vermillion toadstiool of deciduous woodland, usually associated with Beech (Fagus sylvatica). Unlike many other Russula species which have brittle flesh that tends to crumble, the flesh of Rosy Brittlegill is quite hard, particularly in the stalk which has  been likened to a stick of classroom chalk. Although it is widespread in southern beechwoods and scattered elsewhere in England it is rather scarce or poorly recorded in Wales where native beech woodland is confined to east Glamorgan and the Wye Valley. There have been very few collections from West Glamorgan but it has been recorded in the mature beech plantation in Briton Ferry woods.