Light Yellow Russula (Russula claroflava)

Current name

Index Fungorum Russula claroflava Grove
MycoBank Russula claroflava Grove

Other names

Bog Russula, yellow Russula.

Systematic position

Specific epithet etymology

clāroflāvus, a, um light yellow

Synonyms

Russula claroflava var. viridis Knudsen & T. Borgen, Persoonia 14(4): 514 (1992)

Russula constans Britzelm., Ber. naturhist. Augsburg 28: 141 (1885)

Russula decolorans subsp. flava (Romell) Romell, in Krok & Almquist, Svensk Flora för skolor, II. Kryptogamer (edn 2) (Stockholm): 200 (1898)

Russula decolorans var. constans (Britzelm.) P. Karst., Bidr. Känn. Finl. Nat. Folk 48: 464 (1889)

Russula flava Romell, in Lönnegren, Nordisk Svampbok, edn 2: 27 (1895)

Russula flava var. pacifica Kauffman, Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci. 11: 205 (1930) [1929]

Russula ochroleuca var. claroflava (Grove) Cooke, Handb. Brit. Fungi, 2nd Edn: 380 (1890)

General description

The yellow Russula is immediately noticeable by its intensely yellow cap.

Habit

Fruiting body

Agaricoid (cap and stipe)

Hymenophore

Lamellate (gills present, including folded or rudimentary)

Fruiting period (list)

JunJune (1st–10th)June (11th–20th)June (21st–30th)JulJuly (1st–10th)July (11th–20th)July (21st–31st)AugAugust (1st–10th)August (11th–20th)August (21st–31st)SepSeptember (1st–10th)September (11th–20th)September (21st–30th)

Mushroom cap

Reaches 3–12 cm in diameter, initially hemispherical, then convex, flattened and slightly depressed, with a striate margin in old specimens. Coloration yellow or ochre, less often, especially in the center, greenish-yellow. The cuticle is shiny, sticky, peeling off over half the cap.
Gills fairly crowded, branching near the stipe, almost free, light ochre, turning gray when damaged.

Stem

2–10 cm long, 1–3 cm in diameter, cylindrical or tapering downward, white or yellowish.

Flesh

Soft, slightly cottony, white, juicy, usually turning gray when exposed to air.

Odor

Weak mushroom-like, slightly sweet, with floral notes and a slightly sweet or mildly sharp taste.

Microscopy

Spore print: ochre-colored. Spores ovoid, spiny, with a well-developed reticulum.

Ecology and distribution

An ectomycorrhizal fungus that forms a symbiotic association with birches and aspens; grows singly or in groups. Often found in marshy and moist places. Occurs in deciduous and mixed forests.

Fruiting

June–September

Nutritional properties

Edible

The mushroom is assigned to the 3rd category, therefore it is not considered particularly valuable. It is recommended to collect and consume young fruiting bodies with spherical caps. It can be used both fresh, after preliminary boiling for 10–15 minutes, and in salted or pickled form.

Similar species

Ochre Russula (Russula ochroleuca) prefers drier places, growing under both deciduous and coniferous trees. It has a sharper taste and lighter gills. It does not turn gray when damaged. It is terribly easy to confuse the Light Yellow Russula with the deadly poisonous Death Cap (Amanita phalloides), which differs by having a ring-like remnant (velum) on the stipe and a thickening (volva) at its base.

Link to this page for printed editions

Shipovalov A.G. Light Yellow Russula (Russula claroflava) - Mushrooms of Vologda Region [Electronic resource] URL: https://xn----7sbancweblffgklubds60aja.xn--p1ai/en/light-yellow-russula-russula-claroflava (accessed: 13.04.2026).