It is usually white to very pale pink, inedible, and grows with birch trees.

The stem is typically longer than the diameter of the cap, and is cylindrical or slightly club-shaped.

However, the cuticle of the latter species is only three quarters peeling, usually darker at the centre, and with purplish tones.

[2] Many bitter tasting red-capped species can cause problems if eaten raw; the symptoms are mainly gastrointestinal in nature: diarrhoea, vomiting and colicky abdominal cramps.

The active agent has not been identified but thought to be sesquiterpenes, which have been isolated from the related genus Lactarius and from Russula sardonia.