Mushrooms in the autumn wood. Red mushroom (Russula) in a forest ground.
Around 750 worldwide species of mycorrhizal 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 a white to dark yellow spore print, brittle free white gills, and an absence of partial veil or volva tissue on the stem. Members of the related Lactarius genus have similar characteristics but emit a milky latex when their gills are broken. The genus was described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1796. Like the genus Lactarius, russulas have a distinctive flesh consistency, which is also reflected in the appearance of the gills and stipe, and normally makes them immediately recognizable. They have no trace of a veil (no ring, or veil remnants on the cap). The gills are brittle except in a few cases, and cannot be bent parallel with the cap without breaking. Hence the genus Russula sometimes known as 'brittle gills'. They have splitting gills and do not exude a milky substance at cut surfaces, contrary to the genus Lactarius. Presence of large spherical cells, 'sphaerocysts'in stipe is an important characteristic feature to distinguish the members of Russulaceae from other mushroom. In Russula stipe breaks like the flesh of an apple, whilst in most other families it only breaks into fibres. The spore powder varies from white to cream, or even orange. Despite the difficulty in positively identifying collected specimens, the possibility to spot the toxic species by their acrid taste makes some of the mild species, such as R. cyanoxantha and R. vesca, popular edible mushrooms. As far as is known, no species of Russula is deadly poisonous and mild-tasting ones are all that this rule applies only to Russulas and not to other types of mushrooms.
Size: 4000px × 2649px
Location: Vitebsk region, Belarus
Photo credit: © Vadzim Kandratsenkau / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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