Russula caerulea

Taxobox
color = lightblue
name = "Russula caerulea"
status = Frequent

---

image_width=250px
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Russulales
familia = Russulaceae
genus = "Russula"
species = "R. caerulea"
binomial = "Russula caerulea"
binomial_authority = (Pers.) Fr.
synonyms= "Russula amara" Kuceramycomorphbox
name = Russula caerulea
whichGills = adnexed
whichGills2= free
capShape = convex
capShape2=umbonate
hymeniumType=gills
stipeCharacter= bare
sporePrintColor=ochre
howEdible=edible

"Russula caerulea", which goes by the common name of The Humpback Brittlegill, is a member of the "Russula" genus, whose members are commonly known as Brittlegills. It is dark vinaceous or purple; edible, and grows with coniferous trees in late summer and autumn. It is found in Europe and North America.

Taxonomy

First described by mycologist Christian Hendrik Persoon in his 1801 work "Synopsis methodica fungorum" as "Agaricus caeruleus", its specific epithet is Latin "caeruleus" "blue". [cite book|author = Simpson DP| title = Cassell's Latin Dictionary | publisher = Cassell Ltd.| date = 1979|edition = 5|location = London|pages = 883| isbn=0-304-52257-0] It was transferred to "Russula" in 1838 by the Swedish father of mycology Elias Magnus Fries. The 1927 name "Russula amara" by Kučera is a synonym.

Description

The cap is 3 - 10 cm (1.2-4 in) in diameter. It is dark purplish-brown, with a dark, sometimes almost black centre. At first it is convex, or even nearly bell-shaped, but later flattens. However; it nearly always retains a broad pointed boss (umbo) in the cap centre which is a profile that is almost unique within the genus. The cap skin peels to two-thirds, and it later has a furrowed margin. The firm, white stipe is 4-9 cm (1.6-3.6 in) high, 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) wide and narrowly club-shaped. The gills are adnexed to almost free, and are pale ochre, giving a spore print of the same colour. They are quite closely spaced initially. The flesh is white and tastes mild, but the cap skin is bitter on the tongue.cite book | author = Roger Phillips | year = 2006 | title = Mushrooms | publisher = Pan MacMillan | isbn = 0-330-44237-6|pages = p. 25]

"Russula atropurpurea" (Krombh.) Britzelm is infrequent with conifers, preferring deciduous woods, and forests. Its cap is never umbonate, but usually depressed. "Russula viscida" Kudrna has no umbo either, and is very rare. It hardly peels at all..

Distribution and Habitat

"Russula caerulea" appears in late summer and autumn. It is widespread in the northern temperate zones; Europe; Asia, and North America. It is probably mycorrhizal with pine trees ("Pinus"), on sandy soils.

Edibility

This mushroom is edible, but has a bitter cap skin after chewing.

References