Russula adusta

What You Should Know

Russula adusta is a species of mushroom. It is a member of the Russula subgenus Compactae. The fruit bodies are large mushrooms with light brown caps up to about 15 cm in diameter with deep central depression, and a slightly viscid or slimy surface when wet. Gills are creamy-white with various lengths and are sometimes joined together by small interconnecting vein-like ridges. Stems are up to 5cm tall, creamy-white with a brown blush, and stain dirty brown when handled. Young stems are solid but they become hollow with age.

Fresh young mushrooms may have a soapy odor and if cut or damaged their creamy flesh stains pale orange-red. Old specimens smell like rotting fish.

Russula adusta is common in eucalypt forests and woodlands in the wetter regions of the southwest of Western Australia in early- to mid-autumn. It generally fruits singly or in small scattered groups, but is not easily seen because it’s usually under thick leaf litter, and is well camouflaged.

Edible after prolonged boiling or soaking, salted.

Other names: Winecork Brittlegill.

Russula adusta Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   5 - 15 cm in diameter, first convex, with a turned edge, later convex-spread, concave-spread, with a thin smooth, sometimes mature wavy edge in maturity. The surface of the cap is smooth, dry, matte, sticky in wet weather, initially whitish, brown-gray, dark brown, aged brown, yellow-brown, black-brown, with a greenish or olive tinge, with a lighter, slightly pubescent edge.

2. Gills

   The gills are thick, thin, ingrown, first yellowish-white, later dirty-ocher, with brown, reddish-brown, blackish spots.

3. Stem

   3 - 8 cm high, 2 - 4 cm in diameter, cylindrical or club-shaped, smooth or slightly vertically wrinkled, dense, the same color as the surface of the cap.

4. Flesh

   The flesh is dense, firm, brittle, white, on the cut slowly changes color first to reddish-gray, later to dark gray, with a pungent taste and odor. Reaction with FeSO4 (iron sulphate) turns the flesh pink or blue.

5. Spores

   (6,5) 7-8,5 (11) * (5,5) 6-7,5 microns, elliptical shape, with weakly expressed ornamentation.

6. Spore Print

   White.

7. Habitat and Distribution

   Grows from July to October, in coniferous pine forests, on sandy soils, individually and in groups.

Russula adusta Look-Alikes

1. Russula densifolia

   Characterized by a flesh that reddens quickly and then turns black when cut.

2. Russula nigricans

   Characterized by thick liquid plates.

3. Russula albonigra

   Turns black with age or when damaged. However, Russula adusta is more common, does not blacken and Russula albonigra doesn’t have a soapy odor. However, both (and other Russulas) may smell fishy when old.

Russula adusta Synonyms

1. Russula nigricans var. adusta (Pers.) Barbier, 1907

2. Russula adusta f. gigantea Britzelm., 1895

3. Russula subusta Burl., 1915

Russula adusta Video

Source:

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