The Russulaceae are a diverse family of fungi in the order Russulales, with roughly 1,900 known species and a worldwide distribution. They comprise the brittlegills and the milk-caps, well-known mushroom-forming fungi that include some edible species. These gilled mushrooms are characterised by the brittle flesh of their fruitbodies.
Around 750 worldwide species of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms compose the genus Russula. They are typically common, fairly large, and brightly colored – making them one of the most recognizable genera among mycologists and mushroom collectors. Their distinguishing characteristics include usually brightly coloured caps, a white to dark yellow spore print, brittle, attached gills, an absence of latex, and absence of partial veil or volva tissue on the stem. Microscopically, the genus is characterised by the amyloid ornamented spores and flesh (trama) composed of spherocysts. Members of the related genus Lactarius have similar characteristics but emit a milky latex when their gills are broken. The genus was described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1796.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Russula graveolens is an edible species of fungus in the genus Russula. The species was first officially described by Swedish mycologist Lars Romell in 1893.
Russula raoultii is an inedible species of agaric fungus in the family Russulaceae. It was first described by French mycologist Lucien Quélet in 1886.
Russula nana is a species of agaric fungus in the family Russulaceae. First described in 1905 as variety of Russula emetica, it was given distinct species status by Killermann in 1936. It is found in Europe.
Russula rugulosa is a species of agaric fungus in the family Russulaceae. It was first described by American mycologist Charles Horton Peck in 1902.
Russula silvicola is a species of agaric fungus in the family Russulaceae. Found in North America, it was described as new to science in 1975. It is considered inedible. It has a strong peppery flavor.
Russula persanguinea is a species of agaric fungus in the family Russulaceae. Described as new to science by John Burton Cleland in 1933, it is found in Australia, where it grows singly or in small groups on the ground in eucalypt forests and woodlands. It resembles the common Northern Hemisphere species Russula emetica.
Russula violeipes, commonly known as the velvet brittlegill, is a species of fungus in the family Russulaceae. It was described by French mycologist Lucien Quélet in 1898. An edible mushroom, it is found in Asia and Europe.
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.
Russula mukteshwarica is a mushroom closely related to R. violeipes. It has a purple planoconvex cap 65–130 mm in diameter, and gills that are yellow to yellow-green. The type specimen was collected from a forested region in Uttaranchand State in northern India.
Russula campinensis is a neotropical species in the genus Russula. This species is highly different from most other known Russula species in that it has very small (2–17 mm), pleurotoid fruitbodies that develop on tree trunks in up to 2 m elevation from the forest floor. It was described as Lactarius campinensis from Brazil (Amazonas) by Rolf Singer. T.W. Henkel, M.C. Aime and S.L. Miller later found this species in tropical rainforest of the Pakaraima Mountains, Guyana, and showed with molecular phylogenetic methods that it belongs to Russula. Although forming fruitbodies on wood, R. campinensis is a root-symbiotic ectomycorrhizal species and has been observed in Guyana associated with Dicymbe altsonii and D. jenzenii trees in the legume subfamily Caesalpinioideae.
Multifurca furcata is a rare mushroom-forming fungus in the genus Multifurca. It was originally described as a Lactarius species in 1918 and was moved to the new genus Multifurca in 2008. With the genus Lactarius it shares the exudation of milk-like latex; however, it is microscopically and molecularly distinct. It has been found very infrequently, with currently known localities in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, and China.
Multifurca zonaria is a species of mushroom-forming fungus in the genus Russulaceae. Originally described from Thailand as a Russula species in 2003, it was moved to the newly created genus Multifurca in 2008.
Russula flavida is a member of the large mushroom genus Russula, described in 1880 by American botanist and mycologist Charles Christopher Frost and found in North America and parts of Asia. It has a bright yellow to orange yellow cap and stipe and white gills.
Russula crassotunicata is a North American fungus in the mushroom genus Russula, described by Rolf Singer in 1938 from a collection made in Washington state, United States.
