It is a variably colored mushroom, found in deciduous forests, and woods in Britain, Europe, and Scandinavia.

It was placed in the Russula Genus by the Swedish mycologist, and botanist Elias Magnus Fries in 1838, with the epithet heterophylla.

The white stem is firm, browning, and gives a salmon reaction when rubbed with ferrous sulfate.

Russula langei Bon, also has a green reaction to ferrous sulphate, and smells like shellfish, with flesh that stains orange-brown.

This mushroom is edible[4] and good, although care must be taken as it is very like the deadly Amanita phalloides (death cap) when young.