Golden brittlegill or Yellow swamp brittlegill

Cap 2-5 cm across (small!); when young it is convex with an inrolled margin, becoming with age flat and spread out with a slightly sunken center. The cap skin is smooth, slightly slimy in wet weather, peels easily over up to 2/3 of the cap. The color is bright yellow-orange, ocher-orange, apricot, richer in the center, with paler faded patches in mature ones. The margin of mature ones has fine radial grooves.

Cap 5-10 cm across, when young convex with an inrolled margin, with age becoming flattened with a slightly depressed center. The cap skin is smooth, slightly slimy in wet weather, dry and matte in dry weather, peels easily 2/3 of the way to the center. Color a rich lemon-yellow, ochre-yellow, darker in the center to yellow-brown, paler toward the margin. No grayish tinge, which sets it apart from R. ochroleuca. Mature caps have fine radial grooves at the margin.

Gilled hymenophore: the gills are attached or free from the stem, moderately crowded, thin, brittle. The color is distinctly bright yellow thanks to the ripe spores, a diagnostic feature. The spore print is rich yellow-ocher (one of the brightest yellows among brittlegills).

Gilled hymenophore — gills adnate or free from the stem, moderately crowded, thin, brittle. Color whitish at first, ochre-cream to yellowish with age. Spore print yellow-ochre.

Stem 3-6 cm tall, 0.5-1.5 cm thick, firm, cylindrical, hollow in old ones. The color is white to cream. The surface is smooth with fine lengthwise wrinkles. No ring.

Stem 5-10 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, firm, cylindrical, hollow in old specimens. Color white to cream, quickly turns gray to gray-black when damaged — a characteristic reaction. Surface smooth with lengthwise wrinkles. No ring.

Flesh thin, brittle, white; it doesn't change color when cut. The smell is pleasantly fruity, in some fruiting bodies with a distinct hint of apricot or stewed peaches, the taste mild, slightly sweet, no bitterness.

Flesh firm, brittle, white, quickly turns gray to gray-black when cut — a reaction typical of the species (especially in the stem). Smell faint, pleasant, fruity, taste mild, sweetish, not bitter (tongue test).

Pleasantly fruity; many fruiting bodies have a distinct hint of apricot or stewed peaches. A diagnostic feature for some populations.

Faint, pleasant, fruity, neutral-sweetish.