- Russula nobilis
Taxobox
color = lightblue
name = "Russula nobilis"
status = secure
image_width = 250px
regnum = Fungi
divisio =Basidiomycota
classis =Homobasidiomycetae
subclassis =Hymenomycete s
ordo =Agaricales
familia =Russulaceae
genus = "Russula "
species = "R. nobilis"
binomial = "Russula nobilis"
binomial_authority = Velen.mycomorphbox
name = Russula nobilis
whichGills = free
capShape = convex
hymeniumType=gills
stipeCharacter= bare
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
sporePrintColor=white
howEdible=inedibleFormerly "Russula mairei" (Singer), now re-classified as "Russula nobilis" (Velen.)cite book | author = Roger Phillips | year = 2006 | title = Mushrooms | publisher = Pan MacMillan | isbn = 0-330-44237-6|pages=p. 19] , and commonly known as the beechwood sickener, this is a
basidiomycete mushroom of the genus "Russula ". This group of mushrooms are noted for their brittle gills, and bright colours.Taxonomy
It was previously named in honour of French mycologist
René Maire by Rolf Singer in 1929, but found to be the same taxon as the earlier 1920 "Russula nobilis", which has priority.Description
The cap is a red or rosy colour, 3–6 cm wide, convex to flat, or slightly depressed, and weakly sticky. It peels only to a third of its radius, which reveals pink flesh. The stem is 2–5 cm long, 1–1.5 cm wide, cylindrical, (firmer than its conifer dwelling namesake, "
Russula emetica "), and white. The gills are narrowly spaced, white, often with a faint blue-green sheen. The spore print is white.Distribution and Habitat
Not surprisingly given the name, the Beechwood Sickener can be found growing under beech ("
Fagus ").Edibility
Inedible, probably poisonous in quantity, but not deadly. Many bitter tasting red-capped species can cause problems if eaten raw; the symptoms are mainly gastrointestinal in nature:
diarrhoea , vomiting andcolic ky abdominal cramps. The active agent has not been identified but thought to besesquiterpene s, which have been isolated from the related genus "Lactarius " and from "Russula sardonia ". [cite book |last=Benjamin| first= Denis R. |title=Mushrooms: poisons and panaceas — a handbook for naturalists, mycologists and physicians|pages=p. 369|publisher=WH Freeman and Company| location=New York |year=1995| isbn=0-7167-2600-9]References
* "Danske storsvampe. Basidiesvampe" [a key to Danish basidiomycetes] J.H. Petersen and J. Vesterholt eds. Gyldendal. Viborg, Denmark, 1990. ISBN 87-01-09932-9
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