Russula aeruginea

Taxonomy

The species was first described in Elias Magnus Fries's 1863 work Monographia Hymenomycetum Sueciae. The specific epithet aeruginea is derived from the Latin aeruginus, referring to the tarnished color of copper. It is commonly known variously as the "tacky green Russula", the "grass-green Russula", or the "green Russula".

Description

The cap is flat when young, soon funnel shaped and weakly striped; somewhat sticky and shiny, pale green to light grey-green, more rarely olive green. It is often 4 to 10 cm in diameter. The closely spaced gills are pale cream when young, later becoming light yellow when the spores mature. The stipe is white, occasionally with rust-coloured spots at the base, often rather short with longitudinal furrows. It measures 5–8 cm long by 1–2 cm thick. The flesh is white, brittle and without scent, with a mild taste.

The spore print is cream-yellow. The spores are spherical to oval with ridges and warts on the surface, and measure 6–8 by 6–7 μm.

Similar species

The very poisonous death cap can have a similar appearance, especially from above.

Green specimens of R. xerampelina (the crab brittlegill) are similar, but always smell of cooked shellfish. R. grisea and R. parazurea are also similar.

Habitat and distribution

The fruit bodies grow on the ground in woods, in troops in leaf litter or in grass. It is ectomycorrhizal with birch, but also with found under conifers, particularly pine and spruce. It is widely distributed in northern temperate zones. Fruiting occurs from July to November in Europe, and in later summer to autumn in North America. The fungus is also found in East Africa.

Uses

The mushrooms are edible.

References

References

1. "''Russula aeruginea''".
2. Siegel, Noah. (September 1, 2024). "Mushrooms of Cascadia: A Comprehensive Guide to Fungi of the Pacific Northwest". Backcountry Press.
3. Arora D.. (1986). "Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi". Ten Speed Press.
4. Courtecuisse R.. (1999). "Mushrooms of Britain and Europe". Harpercollins.
5. Dugan FM.. (2011). "Conspectus of World Ethnomycology". American Phytopathological Society.
6. Evenson VS.. (1997). "Mushrooms of Colorado and the Southern Rocky Mountains". Big Earth Publishing.
7. Garnweidner E.. (1994). "Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe". Collins.
8. Laessoe T.. (2002). "Mushrooms". Dorling Kindersley Adult.
9. (1977). "Fungi of Northern Europe 2: Gill-Fungi". Penguin.
10. "''Russula aeruginea'' Lindblad, Monographia Hymenomycetum Sueciae 2: 198 (1863)". [[MycoBank]]. International Mycological Association.