Russula decolorans

Russula decolorans
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Russulales
Family:	Russulaceae
Genus:	Russula
Species:	R. decolorans
Binomial name
Russula decolorans Fr., 1838

Russula decolorans Mycological characteristics
	Gills on hymenium
	Cap is convex or depressed
	Hymenium is adnate or adnexed
	Stipe is bare
	Spore print is yellow to ochre
	Ecology is mycorrhizal
	Edibility is edible but not recommended

Russula decolorans, commonly known as the graying russula, ^[2] is a Russula mushroom found in forests. Although edible, it resembles several questionable species.

Description

The cap is convex to plane or depressed, red to orange and viscid when moist. ^[2] The cap grows up to 15 centimetres (6 in) wide and the stalk is up to 12 cm (4+3⁄4 in) long. ^[2] The gills are pale, turning yellowish and sometimes staining grayish. ^[2] The flesh is white and blackens upon bruising; it has a mild taste and odour. ^[2] The spore print is pale ochre. ^[2]

Habitat

It grows alone or in groups in mixed woods and under conifer trees. ^[2]

Uses

The edible mushroom ^[3] is commonly harvested for food in Finland. ^[4] However, it is not recommended to eat wild specimens, as it has several lookalikes with unknown edibility. ^[2]

See also

• List of Russula species

References

1. NatureServe. "Russula decolorans". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
2. Arora, David (1986) [1979]. Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (2nd ed.). Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. pp. 91–92. ISBN   978-0-89815-170-1.
3. Phillips, Roger (2010) [2005]. Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 146. ISBN   978-1-55407-651-2.
4. Ohenoja, Esteri; Koistinen, Riitta (1984). "Fruit body production of larger fungi in Finland. 2: Edible fungi in northern Finland 1976—1978". Annales Botanici Fennici. 21 (4): 357–66. JSTOR   23726151.

Further reading

• E. Garnweidner. Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe. Collins. 1994.