''Russula adusta'', commonly known as the blackening brittlegill or blackening russula, is a
species of
gilled mushroom. It is found in woodlands of Europe and North America. ''Russula adusta'' is a member of the ''
Russula'' subgenus ''Compactae''.
The
cap is brown to gray and somewhat shiny, with a mild taste and, reportedly, an odor of empty wine barrels.
It has a propensity to turn black from cutting or bruising and has white
spores.
It can be found growing with
conifer
Conifers are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single ...
s.
Similar species include ''
Russula albonigra
''Russula albonigra'', commonly known as the blackening russula, is a member of the genus '' Russula'', all of which are collectively known as brittlegills. It grows under both hardwood and conifer trees.
Taxonomy
First described by the mycolo ...
'' and ''
R. densifolia''.
Taxonomy
''Russula adusta'' was first described by the French mycologist
Pierre Bulliard
Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...
in 1785 as ''Agaricus nigricans'', before gaining its current binomial name from the father of mycology, the Swedish mycologist
Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries (15 August 1794 – 8 February 1878) was a Swedish mycologist and botanist.
Career
Fries was born at Femsjö (Hylte Municipality), Småland, the son of the pastor there. He attended school in Växjö.
He acquired ...
.
Description
This is a large member of the genus ''
Russula'', and it has a
cap that is dirty white when young, but swiftly turns brown, and then black on aging. It measures in diameter.
There is usually a large depression in the centre of mature caps, which are three quarter peeling. The
stem
Stem or STEM may refer to:
Plant structures
* Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang
* Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure
* Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
is white, firm, and straight, measuring long and wide; it too blackens with age.
The
gills are off-white initially, very widely spaced, and are adnate. These turn red; then grey, and finally black, when bruised. The flesh, which has a fruity smell, when cut turns pale Indian red, and then grey, and black within 20 minutes.
[ The spore print is white, and the warty oval spores measure 7–8 x 6–7 ]μm
The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Unit ...
.Asterophora
''Asterophora'' is a genus of fungi that grow as parasites on mushrooms. The genus contains four species, which have a widespread distribution, especially in temperate areas. The most recently described species, '' A. salvaterrensis'', was found ...
'' or ''Nyctalis'', in particular the species ''N. parasitica'' and ''N. asterophora'' (the pick-a-back toadstool).
Distribution and habitat
''Russula adusta'' appears in late summer and autumn in both deciduous and coniferous woodland across Britain, northern Europe, and North America.
Toxicity
The species contains toxins which could cause gastrointestinal upset.
Similar species
Species that also bruise red then black include ''Russula acrifolia
''Russula acrifolia'' is a species of mushroom
A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to ...
'' and ''R. dissimulans''.Russula albonigra
''Russula albonigra'', commonly known as the blackening russula, is a member of the genus '' Russula'', all of which are collectively known as brittlegills. It grows under both hardwood and conifer trees.
Taxonomy
First described by the mycolo ...
'' has closer gills and is far less common. It bruises directly to black, lacking the red intermediary phase.
References
External links
Rogers Mushrooms – ''Russula adusta''
ia the Wayback Machine
Savuhapero, svedkremla
via the Wayback Machine
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1784176, from2=Q96738896
adusta
Fungi of Europe
Fungi of North America
Fungus species