Russula heterophylla

Description

Russula heterophylla is an edible wild mushroom, that is placed in the genus Russula, the members of which are mostly known as brittlegills. It is a variably colored mushroom, found in deciduous forests, and woods in Britain, Europe, and Scandinavia. Appearing with broad-leaved trees in summer to early autumn, it usually has a greenish coloration.

Common names: Greasy Green Brittlegill.

Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   The cap is 5 to 10 cm (2.0 to 3.9 in) in diameter. It is known to vary in color and can be various shades of green, brown, or ochre. It is initially round, flattening with age, and later develops depression.

2. Stem

   The white stem is firm, browning, and gives a salmon reaction when rubbed with ferrous sulfate.

3. Gills

   The gills are adnexed, and white giving a spore print of the same color.

4. Spores

   The spores are the smallest in the genus, and are 5–7 by 4–6 µm, spherical to elliptical, or pear-shaped; warts 0.2–0.6 µm high, mostly isolated, but occasionally two or three joined together or connected by a line.

5. Spore Print

   White.

6. Distribution and Habitat

   Appear in summer to early autumn, usually growing in small groups. It is occasional in Britain, Europe, and Scandinavia. It grows with several species of broad-leaved trees, on the roots of which it is ectomycorrhizal.

Look-Alikes

1. Russula virescens

   Has a cracked or fragmented cap surface.

2. Russula aeruginea

   Grows with Birch.

3. Russula langei

   Has a green reaction to ferrous sulfate, and smells like shellfish, with flesh that stains orange-brown.

4. Russula cyanoxantha

   Has a green rather than pink reaction to ferrous sulfate.

5. Russula ilicis

   Grows in Southern Europe under holm oak, less often under cork oak and downy oak.

6. Russula monspeliensis

   Grows under oaks, always with Montpellien or sage-leaved cistus.

History

Noted and described by the South African-born mycologist Christian Hendrik Persoon as Agaricus lividus in 1801. It was placed in the Russula Genus by the Swedish mycologist, and botanist Elias Magnus Fries in 1838, with the epithet heterophylla. Despite many changes, by several mycologists over the years since then, it is this binomial that is currently recognized and is in use present.

The variants Russula heterophylla var. chlora Gillet 1876, and Russula heterophylla var. virginea (Cooke and Massee) A.Pearson & Dennis, have been given species status as Russula violeipes, and Russula virginea respectively.

Synonyms

1. Agaricus furcatus var. heterophyllus Fr., 1821

2. Agaricus galochrous Fr., 1815

3. Agaricus heterophyllus (Fr.) Sacc., 1887

4. Agaricus lividus Pers., 1801, nom. illeg.

5. Russula furcata var. heterophylla (Fr.) P.Kumm., 1871

6. Russula galochroa (Fr.) Fr., 1874

7. Russula heterophylla f. galochroa (Fr.) Singer, 1923

8. Russula heterophylla var. galocroa (Fr.) Gillet, 1876

9. Russula heterophylla var. livida Gillet, 1876

10. Russula heterophylla var. virginea (Cooke & Massee) A.Pearson & Dennis, 1948

11. Russula livida (Gillet) J.Schröt., 1889

12. Russula livida var. galochroa (Fr.) J.Schröt., 1889

13. Russula livida var. virginea (Cooke & Massee) Melzer & Zvára, 1927

14. Russula rigida Velen., 1920

15. Russula virentirubens var. rigida (Velen.) Hornicek, 1988

16. Russula virginea Cooke & Massee, 1890

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: amadej trnkoczy (amadej) (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 2 - Author: amadej trnkoczy (amadej) (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 3 - Author: Jerzy Opioła (CC BY-SA 4.0)