The most salient characteristic is the weak gills, which feel greasy to the touch, are flexible and do not break. The cap is wide, convex at first and later flattened, and greenish to bright brown; they vary considerably in color. The white-to-cream
gills are sometimes forked The spores are white, as is the
spore print. The stipe does not produce a salmon reaction when rubbed with
ferrous sulphate.
Similar species The cap of the grey-green
Russula grisea is more blue-grey but has violet or green hues with light cream gills; it also grows in mixed forests, particularly under beech, and more rarely in
coniferous forests.
Russula olivacea also may have a variegated cap, but produces yellow spores.
R. aeruginea is greenish and has forked gills.
R. variata is frequently forked and found in the east.
R. versicolor has yellowish, unforked gills. ==Habitat and distribution==