Russula vinosa, commonly known as the darkening brittlegill, is a species of basidiomycete mushroom found in coniferous woodlands in Europe and North America in summer and early autumn. Unlike many red-capped members of the russula genus, it is edible and mild-tasting. It is usually understood to have a symbiotic relationship with evergreen tree roots, except for in mountainous areas where it has occasionally associated with birches.[1]
| Russula vinosa | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Russulales |
| Family: | Russulaceae |
| Genus: | Russula |
| Species: | R. vinosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Russula vinosa Lindblad (1901)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Russula vinosa | |
|---|---|
 | Gills on hymenium |
 | Cap is convex or depressed |
 | Hymenium is free or adnexed |
 | Stipe is bare |
 | Ecology is mycorrhizal |
 | Edibility is edible |
Taxonomy
editRussula vinosa was originally described in the Swedish guide Svampbok, (lit. 'Mushroom Book'), written by M. A. Lindblad for publication in 1901.[2] Romel who came up with the synonymous Russula obscura was an editor for the 1913 release of the text. The specific epithet "vinosa" is derived from the Latin vinum "wine", likely alluding to the wine-colored cap of this species that is capable of acting as a dye.
Description
editThe cap is concave and wine to red-brown in colour, often fading to a pale white or tan in the center with age. The widely spaced gills are white, and adnexed or free. The stipe is cylindrical and white or cream colored. The brittle flesh is light and the taste is mild.
Similar species
editThe red-capped color of Russula vinosa is almost impossible to visually separate from other toxic and inedible red-capped Russulas, such as the bloody brittlegill (R. sanguinaria), the sickener (R. emetica), and the beechwood sickener (R. nobilis). It may also be confused with similar edible species such as Russula paludosa and Russula decolorans. It is therefore important to identify the mushroom with absolute certainty before consumption. Chinese and Southeast Asian populations of R. vinosa have been determined to be genetically distinct enough from R. vinosa to be placed in a separate, but anatomically identical species, R. griseocarnosa.[3]
Distribution and habitat
editRussula vinosa is found in Europe and North America. It is known from Great Britain, Southern Europe, New England, and Fennoscandia.[4][5][6] It usually occurs in coniferous tree stands in summer and early autumn.
Edibility
editUnlike many other red-capped members of the genus, Russula vinosa is mild-tasting and edible.[7][8] In Sweden where its edibility is noted, it is known as "Vinkremla" alluding to its wine color.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Russula vinosa". iucn.ekoo.se. Archived from the original on 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ^ Lindblad, Matts Adolf (1901). Svampbok [Mushroom Book] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Iduns Kungliga Hofboktryckeri. p. 166.
- ^ Wang, XiangHua; et al. (2009). ""Russula griseocarnosa sp. nov.(Russulaceae, Russulales), a commercially important edible mushroom in tropical China: mycorrhiza, phylogenetic position, and taxonomy."". Nova Hedwigia. 88 (1/2): 269–282. doi:10.1127/0029-5035/2009/0088-0269. Archived from the original on 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ^ "Darkening Brittlegill (Russula vinosa)". inaturalist.org. Archived from the original on 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ^ "Russula obscura (Romell) Peck". Archived from the original on 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ^ "Darkening Brittlegill". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ^ "Vinkremla – Russula vinosa". svampguiden.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ^ "Vinkremla - Russula vinosa | Översikt | Finlands Artdatacenter". laji.fi. Archived from the original on 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ^ "Storkremla". ruokavirasto.fi. Archived from the original on 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-08-29.