''Hygrophorus russula'', commonly known as the pinkmottle woodwax, false russula and russula-like waxy cap, is a fungus native to North America and Europe. German naturalist

Jacob Christian Schäffer Jacob Christian Schäffer, alternatively Jakob, (31 May 1718 – 5 January 1790) was a German dean, professor, botanist, mycologist, entomologist, ornithologist and inventor. Biography From 1736 to 1738 he studied Theology at the University of ...

described the species as ''Agaricus russula'' in 1774. The species name is derived from its reddish coloration, reminiscent of members of the genus ''

Russula ''Russula'' is a very large genus composed of around 750 worldwide species of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms. They are typically common, fairly large, and brightly colored – making them one of the most recognizable genera among mycologists and mushr ...

''. French botanist

Claude Casimir Gillet Claude Casimir Gillet (19 May 1806 in Dormans, department of Marne – 1 September 1896 in Alençon), was a French botanist and mycologist. He initially trained as a medical doctor and veterinarian. As a veterinarian, he worked for four y ...

placed it in the genus ''

Tricholoma ''Tricholoma'' is a genus of fungus that contains many fairly fleshy white-spored gilled mushrooms which are found worldwide generally growing in woodlands. These are ectomycorrhizal fungi, existing in a symbiotic relationship with various spec ...

'' in 1878, before American naturalist

Calvin Henry Kauffman Calvin Henry Kauffman (March 1, 1869–1931) was an American botanist and mycologist. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he was affiliated with the University of Michigan from 1904 until his death, and was known ...

transferred it to ''

Hygrophorus ''Hygrophorus'' is a genus of agarics (gilled mushrooms) in the family Hygrophoraceae. Called "woodwaxes" in the UK or "waxy caps" (together with ''Hygrocybe'' species) in North America, basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are typically fleshy, often wi ...

'' in 1918. Though Kauffman thought it resembled ''Tricholoma'', he held that its waxy gills showed it to be better suited to the genus ''Hygrophorus''. The fruit bodies, or mushrooms, can be abundant some years, especially after rainfall, sometimes appearing in arcs or

fairy ring A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle, elf ring or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. They are found mainly in forested areas, but also appear in grasslands or rangelands. Fairy rings are detectable by ...

s. The cap is hemispherical before flattening out with age, though the cap margin remains inrolled. Reaching in diameter, it has a base colour of white or pink with streaks of pink, wine-red or purple. The cap surface is sticky when young. The firm flesh is pink or white and has no strong taste or smell. The crowded gills are

decurrent ''Decurrent'' (sometimes decurring) is a term used in botany and mycology to describe plant or fungal parts that extend downward. In botany, the term is most often applied to leaf blades that partly wrap or have wings around the stem or petio ...

. White when young, they become discoloured with pink and wine-red stains. The stipe is high and wide. The

spore print 300px, Making a spore print of the mushroom ''Volvariella volvacea'' shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print. A 3.5-centimeter ...

is white, the smooth oval spores measuring 6–8 by 3–5 μm under the microscope. It can be distinguished from russulas by its non-brittle stipe. The edible but poor '' Hygrophorus purpurascens'' is similar but has a

veil A veil is an article of clothing or hanging cloth that is intended to cover some part of the head or face, or an object of some significance. Veiling has a long history in European, Asian, and African societies. The practice has been prominent ...

and grows under conifers. In eastern North America, it appears under oak from August to October. It is more common in the east of the continent than the west. The mushroom is edible but sources differ as to its quality.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2714680

russula ''Russula'' is a very large genus composed of around 750 worldwide species of ectomycorrhizal mushrooms. They are typically common, fairly large, and brightly colored – making them one of the most recognizable genera among mycologists and mushr ...

Edible fungi Fungi of North America Fungi described in 1774 Taxa named by Jacob Christian Schäffer

See also

References