Russula abietina  Peck (1900)                                                              *All collections: California

This is one of the more common and variable Russula species in Northern California. Its cap starts out rather pale, but variegated with a lot of greenish to olivaceous tinges, slowly increasing in red and purple tones. In maturity the  cap turns fully red and purple with a darker center.  It takes some experience of continuous observation of a familiar patch for one  to "start getting" the sense of this species.  Originally described by Peck from the East Coast. In California it seems to be associated to Douglas Fir.

Spores: 7.5-9.1x61.72µ Cystidia Sometimes, finely zonate margin