Russula adusta

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Russula adusta
Russula nigricans - Lindsey 3a.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Russulales
Family: Russulaceae
Genus: Russula
Species:
R. adusta
Binomial name
Russula adusta
(Pers.) Fr. (1838)
Synonyms
List
  • Agaricus nigricansBull. (1785)
  • Agaricus adustusPers (1801)
  • Agaricus elephantinusBolton (1788)
  • Agaricus nigrescensBull. (1791)
  • Agaricus elephantinusSowerby (1796)
  • Agaricus adustus var. elephantinusPers. (1801)
  • Omphalia adusta var. elephantinus(Pers.) Gray (1821)
  • Omphalia adusta ß elephantinus(Bolton) Gray (1821)
  • Agaricus adustus var. elephantinus(Bolton) Fr. (1821)
  • Omphalia adusta(Pers.) Gray (1821)
  • Russula nigricans(Bull.) Fr. (1838)
  • Russula elephantina(Bolton) Fr. (1838)
  • Russula nigricans var. adusta(Pers.) Barbier (1907)
  • Lactarelis nigricans(Fr.) Earle (1909)
  • Russula eccentricaPeck (1911)
  • Russula subustaBurl. (1915)
  • Russula nigricans subsp. eccentrica(Peck) Singer (1958)
  • Russula nigricans var. eccentrica(Peck) Blanco-Dios (2021)
Russula adusta
Information icon.svg
Gills icon.png Gills on hymenium
Convex cap icon.svgDepressed cap icon.svg Cap is convex or depressed
Adnate gills icon2.svg Hymenium is adnate
Bare stipe icon.svg Stipe is bare
Transparent spore print icon.svg
Spore print is white
Mycomorphbox Poison.pngEdibility is poisonous

Russula adusta, commonly known as the blackening brittlegill or blackening russula, is a species of gilled mushroom. It is found in woodlands of Europe and North America. Russula adusta is a member of the Russula subgenus Compactae. [1] The cap is brown to gray and somewhat shiny, with a mild taste and, reportedly, an odor of empty wine barrels. [1] It has a propensity to turn black from cutting or bruising and has white spores. [1] It can be found growing with conifers. [1] Similar species include Russula albonigra and R. densifolia . [1]

Taxonomy

Russula adusta was first described by the French mycologist Pierre Bulliard in 1785 as Agaricus nigricans, before gaining its current binomial name from the father of mycology, the Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries.

Description

This is a large member of the genus Russula , and it has a cap that is dirty white when young, but swiftly turns brown, and then black on aging. It measures 5–20 cm (2–8 in) in diameter. [2] There is usually a large depression in the centre of mature caps, which are three quarter peeling. The stem is white, firm, and straight, measuring 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long and 2–5 cm (1–2 in) wide; it too blackens with age. [2] The gills are off-white initially, very widely spaced, and are adnate. These turn red; then grey, and finally black, when bruised. The flesh, which has a fruity smell, when cut turns pale Indian red, and then grey, and black within 20 minutes. [3] The spore print is white, and the warty oval spores measure 7–8 x 6–7  μm. [3]

Old specimens are sometimes parasitised by fungi of the genus Asterophora or Nyctalis, in particular the species N. parasitica and N. asterophora (the pick-a-back toadstool).

Distribution and habitat

Russula adusta appears in late summer and autumn in both deciduous and coniferous woodland across Britain, northern Europe, and North America. [4]

Toxicity

The species contains toxins which could cause gastrointestinal upset. [5]

Similar species

Species that also bruise red then black include Russula acrifolia and R. dissimulans. [2]

Russula albonigra has closer gills and is far less common. It bruises directly to black, lacking the red intermediary phase. [6] [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Amanita porphyria</i> Species of fungus

Amanita porphyria, also known as the grey veiled amanita or the porphyry amanita, is a fairly common, inedible mushroom of the genus Amanita found in Europe and North America.

<i>Russula emetica</i> Species of fungus in the family Russulaceae with a wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere

Russula emetica, commonly known as the sickener, emetic russula, or vomiting russula, is a basidiomycete mushroom, and the type species of the genus Russula. It has a red, convex to flat cap up to 8.5 cm (3.3 in) in diameter, with a cuticle that can be peeled off almost to the centre. The gills are white to pale cream, and closely spaced. A smooth white stem measures up to 10.5 cm (4.1 in) long and 2.4 cm (0.9 in) thick. First described in 1774, the mushroom has a wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, where it grows on the ground in damp woodlands in a mycorrhizal association with conifers, especially pine.

<i>Russula xerampelina</i> Species of fungus

Russula xerampelina, also commonly known as the shrimp russula, crab brittlegill, or shrimp mushroom, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the brittlegill genus Russula. Two subspecies are recognised. The fruiting bodies appear in coniferous woodlands in autumn in northern Europe and North America. Their caps are coloured various shades of wine-red, purple to green. Mild tasting and edible, it is one of the most highly regarded brittlegills for the table. It is also notable for smelling of shellfish or crab when fresh.

<i>Russula vesca</i> Basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula

Russula vesca, known by the common names of bare-toothed Russula or the flirt, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula.

<i>Russula virescens</i> Species of edible fungus

Russula virescens is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula, and is commonly known as the green-cracking russula, the quilted green russula, or the green brittlegill. It can be recognized by its distinctive pale green cap that measures up to 15 cm (6 in) in diameter, the surface of which is covered with darker green angular patches. It has crowded white gills, and a firm, white stipe that is up to 8 cm (3 in) tall and 4 cm (1.6 in) thick. Considered to be one of the best edible mushrooms of the genus Russula, it is especially popular in Spain and China. With a taste that is described variously as mild, nutty, fruity, or sweet, it is cooked by grilling, frying, sautéeing, or eaten raw. Mushrooms are rich in carbohydrates and proteins, with a low fat content.

<i>Russula claroflava</i> Species of fungus

Russula claroflava, commonly known as the yellow russula, yellow swamp russula or yellow swamp brittlegill, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula. It is found in wet places under birch and aspen woodlands across Europe and North America. It has a yellow cap, white gills and stipe and bruises grey. It is mild-tasting and regarded as good to eat.

<i>Russula sardonia</i> Species of fungus

Russula sardonia, commonly known as the primrose brittlegill, is a mushroom of the genus Russula, which are commonly known as brittlegills. The fruiting body, or mushroom, is a reddish-purple, the colour of blackberry juice, and is found in coniferous woodland in summer and autumn. It is inedible, and like many inedible members of the genus, has a hot, peppery taste.

<i>Russula sanguinaria</i> Species of fungus

Russula sanguinaria, commonly known as the bloody brittlegill or rosey russula, is a strikingly coloured mushroom of the genus Russula, which has the common name of brittlegills. It is bright blood-red, inedible, and grows in association with coniferous trees. It was previously widely known as Russula sanguinea.

<i>Russula brevipes</i> Species of fungus

Russula brevipes is a species of mushroom commonly known as the short-stemmed russula or the stubby brittlegill. It is widespread in North America, and was reported from Pakistan in 2006. The fungus grows in a mycorrhizal association with trees from several genera, including fir, spruce, Douglas-fir, and hemlock. Fruit bodies are white and large, with convex to funnel-shaped caps measuring 7–30 cm (3–12 in) wide set atop a thick stipe up to 8 cm (3 in) long. The gills on the cap underside are closely spaced and sometimes have a faint bluish tint. Spores are roughly spherical, and have a network-like surface dotted with warts.

<i>Russula aeruginea</i> Species of fungus

Russula aeruginea, also known as the grass-green russula, the tacky green russula, or the green russula, is an edible Russula mushroom. Widely distributed in northern temperate regions, it is usually found under birch, mostly in pine forests. The very poisonous death cap can have a similar appearance, especially from above.

<i>Lactifluus piperatus</i> Species of fungus

Lactifluus piperatus, commonly known as the blancaccio, is a semi-edible basidiomycete fungus of the genus Lactifluus. Despite being edible, it is not recommended by some because of its poor taste, though can be used as seasoning when dried. The fruiting body is a creamy-white mushroom which is funnel-shaped when mature, with exceptionally crowded gills. It bleeds a whitish peppery-tasting milk when cut. Widely distributed across Europe and eastern North America, Lactifluus piperatus has been accidentally introduced to Australia. Mycorrhizal, it forms a symbiotic relationship with various species of deciduous tree, including beech, and hazel, and fruiting bodies are found on the forest floor in deciduous woodland.

<i>Russula delica</i> Species of fungus

Russula delica is a mushroom that goes by the common name of milk-white brittlegill, and is a member of the genus Russula, all of which are collectively known as brittlegills. It is mostly white, with ochraceous or brownish cap markings, and a short robust stem. It is edible, but poor in taste, and grows in coniferous, broadleaved, or mixed woods. It can be confused with other white Russula species and certain white Lactarius species.

<i>Lepiota castanea</i> Species of fungus

Lepiota castanea, commonly known as the chestnut dapperling or petite parasol, is a deadly poisonous, uncommon, gilled mushroom of the genus Lepiota in the order Agaricales. It is known to contain amatoxins and consuming this fungus can be a potentially lethal proposition. It was described by French mycologist Lucien Quélet in 1881.

<i>Tricholoma saponaceum</i> Species of fungus

Tricholoma saponaceum, also known as the soap-scented toadstool, soapy tricholoma, soapy knight or soap tricholoma is an inedible mushroom found in woodlands in Europe and North America.

<i>Russula paludosa</i> Species of fungus

Russula paludosa is an edible species of mushroom within the large genus Russula. It is common to Europe and North America.

<i>Asterophora lycoperdoides</i> Species of fungus

Asterophora lycoperdoides, commonly known as the star bearer, or powdery piggyback mushroom, is a species of fungus in the Lyophyllaceae family. It grows as a parasite on other mushrooms, mainly those in the genus Russula. Its gills are poorly formed or nearly absent. Asexual spores are produced on the mushrooms cap which enable the organism to clone itself easily. The spores are star-shaped, hence the name star bearer. It is regarded as nonpoisonous but inedible.

<i>Asterophora parasitica</i> Species of fungus

Asterophora parasitica, commonly known as the parasitic Asterophora or the Russula parasite, is a species of fungus that grows as a parasite on other mushrooms. The fruit bodies are small, with silky fibers on the surface of grayish caps and thick, widely spaced gills. Mushrooms fruit in clusters on the decaying remains of Lactarius and Russula species, particularly those in the Russula nigricans group. Found primarily in temperate zones of Europe and North America, the fungus is widespread but not common.

<i>Inocybe godeyi</i> Species of fungus

Inocybe godeyi is a species of Inocybaceae fungus found in Europe. The species produces mushrooms with cone-shaped caps up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. The caps are cream, becoming browner, but they bruise red. The stem is up to 6 cm (2 in) long, and has a "bulb" at the base. The white flesh has a strong smell and an acrid taste. The mushrooms can be found on forest floors in autumn months; the species forms an ectomycorrhizal relationship to surrounding trees, favouring beech. I. godeyi is known to be poisonous, containing muscarine compounds, and consumption of the mushrooms can lead to SLUDGE syndrome. The species is sometimes mistaken for the deadly I. erubescens.

<i>Russula densifolia</i> Species of agaric fungus

Russula densifolia, commonly known as the crowded russula or the reddening russula, is a species of agaric fungus in the family Russulaceae. It was first described in 1833 and given its current name in 1876. A widespread species, it is found in Asia, Europe, and North America, where it fruits on the ground in mixed and deciduous forests. Fruit bodies (mushrooms) are robust and squat, with caps up to 14.5 cm (5.7 in) in diameter, and stems that are 2–7.5 cm (0.8–3.0 in) long by 1.2–2.5 cm (0.5–1.0 in) thick. The mushrooms are characterized by the red and then black color changes that occur in the flesh when it is bruised, and a relatively thick cap cuticle. Although the mushroom is sold as an edible species in some areas of Asia, it is mild to moderately toxic, and may cause gastrointestinal upset if consumed. Several bioactive compounds have been isolated and identified from the mushroom.

<i>Leucoagaricus badhamii</i> Species of fungus

Leucoagaricus badhamii is a species of fungus in the family Agaricaceae and genus Leucoagaricus. The flesh of this mushroom turns blood red when cut or bruised, hence its common name of blushing dapperling. These damaged areas may eventually turn brown or black and likewise the mushroom may discolour brown or black with age. All parts of the flesh display red staining aiding in identification.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 111–112. ISBN   978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC   797915861.
  3. 1 2 3 Roger Phillips (2006). Mushrooms. Pan MacMillan. p. 47. ISBN   0-330-44237-6.
  4. David Arora (1986). Mushrooms Demystified . Ten Speed Press. ISBN   0-89815-169-4.
  5. Miller Jr., Orson K.; Miller, Hope H. (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, CN: FalconGuide. p. 80. ISBN   978-0-7627-3109-1.
  6. Marcel Bon (1987). The Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and North Western Europe. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN   0-340-39935-X.