Russula atropurpurea

Russula atropurpurea is an edible member of the genus Russula. It is dark vinaceous (red wine-coloured) or purple, and grows with deciduous, or occasionally coniferous trees. It is commonly called the blackish purple Russula, or the purple brittlegill.

Russula atropurpurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
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Genus:
Species:
R. atropurpurea
Binomial name
Russula atropurpurea
Synonyms

Russula krombholzii Shaffer
Russula undulata Velen.

Russula atropurpurea
float
Mycological characteristics
gills on hymenium
cap is convex or flat
hymenium is adnexed
stipe is bare
spore print is white
ecology is mycorrhizal
edibility: edible

Taxonomy

Initially described as Agaricus atropurpureus by German naturalist Julius von Krombholz in 1845, and placed in Russula by his countryman Max Britzelmayr in 1893, the binomial name of this mushroom R. atropurpurea (Krombh.) Britzelm is accepted as being incorrect, and mycologists cannot agree on a suitable replacement.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Russula atropurpurea appears in late summer and autumn. It is common in the northern temperate zones, Europe, Asia, and Eastern North America, and is mycorrhizal with oak (Quercus),[2][3] with which it prefers to live. Favouring acid soil, it is occasionally found with beech (Fagus), or pine (Pinus).[1]

Description

a mature Purple Brittlegill on Kaien Island

The cap is 4–10 cm (1.5–4 in) in diameter. It is dark reddish purple, with a dark; sometimes almost black centre. At first it is convex, but later flattens, and often has a shallow depression. It can also be lighter in colour, or mottled yellowish. The stem is firm, white, and turns grey with age. It measures 3–6 cm in length and 1–2 cm in diameter. The closely set and fairly broad gills are adnexed to almost free, and pale cream, giving a spore print of the same colour. The flesh is white; with a fruity smell, similar to apples. It tastes moderately hot.[1]

The species R. brunneviolacea, and R. romellii are similar, though both have darker spore prints.[2]

As the fruitbodies mature, the caps become concave to collect water during wet weather, and much of the color washes off the rim.[4]

Spores

Spores at 800x found in a field in Wales, United Kingdom.

The spore print is Whitish, and the subglobose to globose spores ornamented with warts and ridges measure 7-9 x 6-7 μm.

Edibility

This mushroom is said to be the mildest of the hot-tasting Russula species. It is edible if cooked, although not recommended.

See also

References

  1. Phillips R (2006). Mushrooms. Pan MacMillan. p. 22. ISBN 0-330-44237-6.
  2. Laessoe T (1998). Mushrooms (flexi bound). Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7513-1070-0.
  3. Arora D (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press. pp. 85. ISBN 0-89815-169-4.
  4. "Russula atropurpurea, Purple Brittlegill mushroom". First Nature.
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