Russula brunneoviolacea or Charcoal burner

Cap 3-8 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 back about 2/3 of the way to the center. Color: dark violet to violet-blackish at the center, with a characteristic transition to chestnut-brown and ochre at the margin. In mature specimens the margin has fine radial grooves.

Cap 5-15 cm across, when young hemispherical, with age becoming flattened with a slightly depressed center. The cap skin is smooth, slimy in wet weather, dry and matte in dry weather, peeling 2/3 of the way to the center. Color very variable — violet-blue, green-gray, olive-violet, brownish violet with yellow patches. In a single cluster of fruiting bodies you'll often see caps in different shades. Deeper in the center, paler toward the margin, with fine radial grooves.

Gilled hymenophore — the gills are attached or free from the stem, moderately crowded, thin, brittle. Color: whitish at first, creamy ochre-yellowish with age because of the ripe spores. Spore print yellow-ochre — a diagnostic feature (sets it apart from the white print of R. vesca and others).

Gilled hymenophore — gills adnate or free from the stem, partly forked near the stem, moderately crowded. UNIQUE FEATURE: the gills are flexible and springy and don't break when pressed — run your finger over them and they bend and spring back (unlike all other brittlegills, whose gills are brittle and crumbly). Color pure white to creamy white. Spore print white.

Stem 3-7 cm tall, 0.8-2 cm thick, firm, cylindrical, hollow inside in old specimens. Color: whitish, often with a faint pink or ochre tinge toward the base, with brownish-ochre spots in old specimens. Surface smooth with fine lengthwise wrinkles. No ring.

Stem 5-10 cm tall, 1.5-3 cm thick, firm, fleshy, cylindrical, with a small cavity in old specimens. Color white to cream, sometimes with a faint violet tinge toward the base. Surface smooth with fine lengthwise wrinkles. No ring, no volva.

Flesh firm, brittle, white, when cut slowly turns yellow. Smell faint, pleasant, fruity-mushroomy, taste mild, sweetish and nutty, with no bitterness or acridity.

Flesh firm, fleshy, pure white, does not change color when cut — a characteristic of the species. Smell faint, pleasant, fruity-mushroomy, taste mild, sweetish and nutty, with no bitterness or acridity.

Faint, pleasant, fruity-mushroomy, neutral.

Faint, pleasant, fruity-mushroomy, neutral.