# Purple Brittlegill (*Russula*)

Purple Brittlegill is a colorful fungus that can be purple or violet! It often grows in shady places under trees.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Shady areas

![Purple Brittlegill](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424726/objects/5167.jpg)

## Appearance

The Purple Brittlegill has a vibrant cap, often appearing purple, lilac, olive green, or even bluish-grey, which can be patchy or zoned. It has pure white, brittle gills that do not fork, and a sturdy, white, cylindrical stem that is also quite fragile.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Russulales
- **Family:** Russulaceae
- **Genus:** Russula

## Interesting facts

- It has special underground threads that connect it directly to the roots of trees!
- Its scientific name means 'blue and yellow', even though its cap is often purple!
- Many colorful mushrooms are poisonous, but this striking purple one is actually edible!
- This mushroom's name 'Brittlegill' comes from its fragile, chalk-like stem and gills!

## Special abilities

- **Nutrient Navigator:** Purple Brittlegill can share vital water and minerals with tree roots, helping both the fungus and the tree thrive.
- **Super Spore Sprinkler:** Its delicate, brittle gills break cleanly, helping it efficiently release its spores to grow new mushrooms nearby.
- **Color Shift Camouflage:** Purple Brittlegill has a cap that can vary widely in color, helping it blend in with different forest floor environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-10 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Size:** 5-15 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** soil
- **Season:** Late summer to autumn
- **Spore Color:** White

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Forms a mutually beneficial root partnership.
- **Symbiotic with:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Exchanges nutrients and water with its roots.
- **Eaten by:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs and snails often graze on its caps and gills.

## Traits

- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Purple Brittlegill?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Purple Brittlegill?

5-10 cm

### Is Purple Brittlegill edible?

edible

### How big is Purple Brittlegill?

5-15 cm

### Where is Purple Brittlegill usually found?

Shady areas

### What does Purple Brittlegill grow on?

soil

### When is Purple Brittlegill in season?

Late summer to autumn

### What color are Purple Brittlegill spores?

White

## Where to spot

- [Cherry Springs State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cherry-springs-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park
- [Luverne Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/luverne-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District
- [W.J. Freeman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/w-j-freeman-park) — Tennessee, US · Park
- [Backlick Stream Valley Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/backlick-stream-valley-park) — Virginia, US · Park
- [Wolf Trails Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wolf-trails-park) — Virginia, US · Park
- [McLean Hunt Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mclean-hunt-park) — Virginia, US · Park

[View all places to see Purple Brittlegill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/purple-brittlegill)

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Purple Brittlegill: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/purple-brittlegill)