You can probably eat almost any russula without suffering more than a burnt tongue or mild upset stomach.  An exception is Russula emetica.  Eat this mushroom and you will vomit in technicolor! As described by Kibby and Fatto, there are approximately 128 russulas with red caps.  88 of these also have white stipes.  Most mushrooms described as R. emetica are one of the many other look-a-likes.  R. emetica is always in sphagnum moss.  It is prudent not to eat any of the ‘bitterly hot’ red ones. 026-001

« It is estimated that there are roughly 750 species of russula throughout the world. Most mycologists would agree that there are too many to know more than 30 to 50 comfortably. The majority, but not all, russulas are extremely fragile and may not stand up to cooking very well well. Some, though are meaty enough and sufficiently mild tasting that hunters collect them for the table - rather than kicking them out of the way! Some of the favorite russula edibles belong in the mariae group, the variata group or the green russula group. 025-001
EDIBLE MUSHROOMS & POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES by Dianna Smith
Edible Mushrooms & Look-a-likes. 027-001 »