Russula atropurpurea

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Russula atropurpurea
Russ.atro.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Division:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
R. atropurpurea
Binomial name
Russula atropurpurea
Synonyms

Russula krombholziiShaffer
Russula undulata Velen.

Contents

Russula atropurpurea
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Mycological characteristics
Gills icon.pnggills on hymenium
Convex cap icon.svgFlat cap icon.svg cap is convex or flat
Adnexed gills icon2.svg hymenium is adnexed
Bare stipe icon.svg stipe is bare
Transparent spore print icon.svg
spore print is white
Mycorrhizal fungus.svgecology is mycorrhizal
Mycomorphbox Edible.pngedibility: edible

Russula atropurpurea is an edible member of the genus Russula . It is dark vinaceous (red wine-coloured) or purple, and grows with deciduous, or occasionally coniferous trees. It is commonly called the blackish purple Russula, or the purple brittlegill.

Taxonomy

Initially described as Agaricus atropurpureus by German naturalist Julius von Krombholz in 1845, and placed in Russula by his countryman Max Britzelmayr in 1893, the binomial name of this mushroom R. atropurpurea (Krombh.) Britzelm is accepted as being incorrect, and mycologists cannot agree on a suitable replacement. [1]

Distribution and habitat

Russula atropurpurea appears in late summer and autumn. It is common in the northern temperate zones, Europe, Asia, and Eastern North America, and is mycorrhizal with oak ( Quercus ), [2] [3] with which it prefers to live. Favouring acid soil, it is occasionally found with beech ( Fagus ), or pine ( Pinus ). [1]

Description

a mature Purple Brittlegill on Kaien Island Two views of a mature Purple Brittlegill on Kaien Island.png
a mature Purple Brittlegill on Kaien Island

The cap is 4–10 cm (1.5–4 in) in diameter. It is dark reddish purple, with a dark; sometimes almost black centre. At first it is convex, but later flattens, and often has a shallow depression. It can also be lighter in colour, or mottled yellowish. The stem is firm, white, and turns grey with age. It measures 3–6 cm in length and 1–2 cm in diameter. The closely set and fairly broad gills are adnexed to almost free, and pale cream, giving a spore print of the same colour. The flesh is white; with a fruity smell, similar to apples. It tastes moderately hot. [1]

The species R. brunneviolacea , and R. romellii are similar, though both have darker spore prints. [2]

As the fruitbodies mature, the caps become concave to collect water during wet weather, and much of the color washes off the rim. [4]

Spores

Spores at 800x found in a field in Wales, United Kingdom. Russula Atropurpurea.png
Spores at 800x found in a field in Wales, United Kingdom.

The spore print is Whitish, and the subglobose to globose spores ornamented with warts and ridges measure 7-9 x 6-7 μm.

Edibility

This mushroom is said to be the mildest of the hot-tasting Russula species. It is edible if cooked, although not recommended.

See also

Related Research Articles

<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>

Russula xerampelina, also commonly known as the crab brittlegill or the 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 claroflava</i>

Russula claroflava, commonly known as the 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 nigricans</i>

Russula nigricans, commonly known as the blackening brittlegill or blackening russula, is a gilled mushroom found in woodland in Europe. It gains both its common and scientific name from its propensity to turn black from cutting or bruising. It is edible but of indifferent quality.

<i>Russula sardonia</i>

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>

Russula sanguinaria, commonly known as the bloody brittlegill, 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 betularum</i>

Russula betularum is a small, very pale member of the Russula (brittlegills) genus of mushrooms. It is usually white to very pale pink, inedible, and grows with birch trees. It is commonly known as the birch brittlegill.

<i>Russula brevipes</i>

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>

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>Russula aurea</i>

Russula aurea, commonly known as the gilded brittlegill, is an uncommon species of mushroom found in deciduous woodland in Europe in summer and early autumn. Unlike many red-capped members of the genus, it is edible and mild-tasting.

<i>Russula caerulea</i>

Russula caerulea, commonly known as the humpback brittlegill, is a member of the genus Russula, whose members are also known as brittlegills. It is a dark vinaceous or purple-colored edible mushroom, and grows with coniferous trees in late summer and autumn. It is found in Europe and North America.

<i>Russula delica</i>

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>Russula fellea</i>

The mushroom Russula fellea goes by the common name of the geranium-scented russula, or bitter russule and is a member of the genus Russula, all of which are commonly known as brittlegills. It is straw or honey coloured and in Britain grows in beech woods during autumn. It is inedible.

<i>Russula fragilis</i>

The inedible wild mushroom Russula fragilis, which goes by the common name of the fragile brittlegill, is a member of the genus Russula, whose members are commonly known as brittlegills. It is a small, fragile, long stemmed, and variably coloured brittlegill, found in mixed forests, and woods in Europe, Asia, and North America.

<i>Russula gracillima</i>

The mushroom Russula gracillima, commonly known as the slender brittlegill, is a member of the genus Russula, whose members are commonly known as brittlegills. It is a small, pale, long stemmed brittlegill associated mainly with birch and is occasional in Europe, Asia, and North America.

<i>Russula heterophylla</i>

The edible wild mushroom Russula heterophylla, that has lately been given the common name of the greasy green brittlegill is placed in the genus Russula, the members of which are mostly known as brittlegills. It is a variably colored mushroom, found in deciduous forests, and woods in Britain, Europe, and Scandinavia. Appearing with broad-leaved trees in summer to early autumn, it usually has a greenish coloration.

<i>Russula albidula</i>

Russula albidula is a species of mushroom in the genus Russula. The species, known in the vernacular as the boring white russula or the whitish brittlegill, is nondescript, with a small or medium dirty white fruit body, and a highly acrid taste. It is found in eastern North America.

<i>Russula rosea</i>

Russula rosea, known as the rosy russula, is a north temperate, some consider it edible other inedible, commonly found mushroom of the large "brittlegill" genus Russula.

<i>Russula densifolia</i>

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>Hygrophorus russula</i>

Hygrophorus russula, commonly known as the pinkmottle woodwax, false russula and russula-like waxy cap, is a fungus native to North America and Europe.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Phillips R (2006). Mushrooms. Pan MacMillan. p. 22. ISBN   0-330-44237-6.
  2. 1 2 Laessoe T (1998). Mushrooms (flexi bound). Dorling Kindersley. ISBN   0-7513-1070-0.
  3. Arora D (1986). Mushrooms Demystified . Ten Speed Press. pp.  85. ISBN   0-89815-169-4.
  4. "Russula atropurpurea, Purple Brittlegill mushroom". First Nature.