Russula foetens

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Russula foetens, commonly known as the stinking russula, is a mushroom found in both deciduous and coniferous forests. The cap starts off hemispherical and very slimy when young, then becomes more convex. It ranges in color from honey yellow to ochre brown and can be up to 10 cm across. The gills and spores are pale cream. The stem is white or has blotchy yellowish-brown marks. The flesh has a strong acrid smell, and if the mushroom is old it may smell fishy and taste bad. Many people consider it inedible. In Russia, it is sometimes used for traditional mushroom pickles after soaking in water for several days to remove the strong taste. This preservation method is also used for other Russula species and milk-caps, and these pickles are a delicacy in parts of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.