Russula paludosa

Description

Russula paludosa is an edible Russula with a convex to depressed, orange-red cap, with yellow discoloration in the center and a slightly sticky surface when damp. It is common in Europe and North America.

This large, brightly colored mushroom is found on the ground in mixed woods and coniferous forests from early summer to early autumn. It grows on the roots of pines.

Common names: Tall Bog Russula, Hintapink (UK), Storkremla (Sweden), Purva Bērzlape (Austria).

Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   Red, purplish bay brown or ochre; occasionally with pale patches; peeling 1/2 to center; cap flesh is pink just beneath cuticle; hemispherical then convex, becoming flat with a central depression; margin becoming striate; 5 to 15cm across.

2. Gills

   Cream, turning light ochre; adnexed; crowded.

3. Stem

   White; cylindrical, occasionally swollen in the center or with a slightly clavate base; 4 to 15cm long (for a brittlegill this is exceptionally long relative to its cap diameter), 1 to 3cm diameter.

4. Spores

   Broadly ellipsoidal to globose; 8-10.5 x 7-8μm, with large warts up to 1.2μm tall, some of which are joined by connecting lines forming a very partial reticulate network.

5. Spore Print

   Deep cream to dark ochre.

6. Habitat & Ecological role

   Damp mossy conifer forests. In common with other members of the Russulaceae, Russula paludosa is an ectomycorrhizal mushroom.

7. Season

   August to October.

8. Similar Species

   The Beechwood Sickener, Russula nobilis, is found under conifers; it is similar to red specimens of Russula paludosa when caps are young but caps remain convex rather than becoming depressed when fully mature.

History

This brittlegill mushroom was described in 1890 by German mycologist Max Britzelmayr (1839 - 1909), who established its currently-accepted scientific name Russula paludosa.

Synonyms of Russula paludosa include Russula elatior Lindbl., Russula fragaria Kudrna, Russula integra var. paludosa (Britzelm.) Singer, and Russula olgae Velen.

Russula, the generic name, means red or reddish, and indeed many of the brittlegills have red caps. But many more are not, and several of those that are usually red can also occur in a range of other colors.

The specific epithet paludosa means of bogs, swamps, or marshes - a reference to the damp mossy woodland habitats in which these colorful brittlegill mushrooms are most often found.

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Jerzy Opioła (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Henk Monster (CC BY 3.0)

Photo 3 - Author: Henk Monster (CC BY 3.0)