''Russula ochroleuca'' is a member of the genus ''
Russula''. A group that have become known as brittlegills. It has been
commonly known as the common yellow russula for some years, and latterly the ochre brittlegill. It is widespread, and common in mixed woodland.
Taxonomy
''Russula ochroleuca'' was first noted and named as a species of ''
Agaricus'' by the pioneering South African mycologist
Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1801.
Description
The
cap is dull yellow and wide, initially convex, later flat, or slightly depressed. The cap margin becomes furrowed when mature, and it is two-thirds peeling. The
gills are white to greyish white, and are adnexed.
The
stipe is long, wide, cylindrical, white or later greyish. The taste is mild to moderately hot.
It could be confused with the similar-looking and much better tasting ''
Russula claroflava''.
Distribution and habitat
''Russula ochroleuca'' grows in
deciduous
In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
and
coniferous forest, where it (at least in Northwestern Europe) is very common. In the USA it is fairly common under conifers;
birch
A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus ''Betula'' (), in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech-oak family Fagaceae. The genus ''Betula'' contains 30 ...
, and
aspen
Aspen is a common name for certain tree species; some, but not all, are classified by botanists in the section ''Populus'', of the ''Populus'' genus.
Species
These species are called aspens:
*'' Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (China ...
in the Northern States.
Edibility
Although considered
edible
An edible item is any item that is safe for humans to eat. "Edible" is differentiated from "eatable" because it does not indicate how an item tastes, only whether it is fit to be eaten. Nonpoisonous items found in nature – such as some mushroo ...
, it is not known as particularly tasty. It is mild to moderately hot.
See also
*
List of ''Russula'' species
References
*
* "Danske storsvampe. Basidiesvampe"
key to Danish basidiomycetesJ.H. Petersen and J. Vesterholt eds. Gyldendal. Viborg, Denmark, 1990.
{{Taxonbar, from=Q206438
ochroleuca
Fungi described in 1801
Fungi of Europe
Taxa named by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon
Fungus species