Charcoal Burner
ExploreFungi
Charcoal Burner
Russula
The Charcoal Burner is a special type of fungus that looks a bit like a mushroom! It grows in woodlands and can be found on the ground among leaves.
Habitat: Woodlands
Appearance
The Charcoal Burner has a cap that varies greatly in color, from purplish-gray to olive-green or even brown, often with wavy or splitting edges. Its gills are creamy white, flexible, and do not break easily, distinguishing it from many other brittle Russula mushrooms. The stalk is firm and white, sometimes with a grayish tint.
KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderRussulalesFamilyRussulaceaeGenusRussula
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
2
Interesting facts
Despite its name, the Charcoal Burner has a very mild and pleasant taste, not smoky at all!
It often grows close to oak and beech trees, connected by a hidden underground network.
Its scientific name 'cyanoxantha' means blue and yellow, even though it's rarely those colors!
This mushroom's flesh doesn't change color when you cut it, a handy identification clue!
Special abilities
Ability
Color Shifter
Charcoal Burner can display many cap colors, from purplish to greenish-grey, making it hard to spot!
Ability
Flexible Gills
Charcoal Burner has pliable gills that bend instead of breaking, unlike many of its brittle relatives.
Ability
Nutrient Exchange
Charcoal Burner can share vital nutrients with tree roots, helping both partners thrive in the forest.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 4-10 cm
- Edibility
- edible
- Cap Diameter
- 5-15 cm
- Growth Substrate
- soil
- Season
- Summer to fall
- Spore Color
- White
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
Pedunculate Oak
Quercus robur
forms a vital underground partnership with its roots
symbiotic with
European Beech
Fagus sylvatica
trades sugars for essential minerals and water
eats
Spanish Slug
Arion vulgaris
a common forest floor inhabitant that enjoys fungi
eats
Grey Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
forages for various fungi as part of its varied diet
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Charcoal Mushroom
Collections
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 tall is Charcoal Burner?
4-10 cm
Is Charcoal Burner edible?
edible
How big is Charcoal Burner?
5-15 cm
Where is Charcoal Burner usually found?
Woodlands
What does Charcoal Burner grow on?
soil
When is Charcoal Burner in season?
Summer to fall
What color are Charcoal Burner spores?
White
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
