*Russulas* of NC

12/11 Alright, once again I'm getting lost in the world of observations that are resistant to species level IDing.

This time it's the Russula genus of mushrooms, commonly called brittlegills. Once again a group notoriously difficult to ID to species with basic observation which is why I've never cared to try with my earlier Russula observations.

But the other day I found a big, gorgeous, specimen that seemed perfect to do a spore print with, and I wasn't expecting such vibrantly colored spores! I immediately tried to look up what species it could be but was frustrated at most turns. Ultimately, I was able to find a couple of resources to give me at least some options, although it's very difficult to find fungi information that isn't outdated since the field is developing at such a rapid pace.

Here's where I'm at with my quest to ID so far:

My first resource is always my field guide (Bessette, Bessette, & Hopping, 2018), but, like every other mushroom guide, it only has Russula emetica as a red capped Russula option, but that would have a white spore print.

Next, I looked at every red capped Russula specimen found in NC at the New York Botanical Garden's Steere herbarium to see if there were any matches

Ruled out:
Russula pusilla Peck I think this tends to be a lighter red cap and is small
Russula magna Beardslee - blackening russula
Russula rubescens Beardslee- blushing russula
Russula rosea/lepida has a cream colored spore print
Russula cinerascens has pale ochre print and duller cap that ages to olive
Russula uncialis has a white spore print and duller cap
Russula fragiloides Murrill has purpler cap
Russula sanguinea Fr. - unbruising red cap with orange-yellow spores= tempting, but the stipe tends to be notably red while mine are always white

Ones I couldn't rule out as easily:
Russula aciculocystis Kauffman ex Bills & O.K.Mill. Red cap and yellow spores found in the piedmont but described as maxing out at 5 cm. Stipe described as sometimes white but often tinted pink red brown or yellow- whereas mine are consistently white
Russula amygdaloides Kauffman- thick orange yellow spore print , but is also described as rarely red capped with a mild taste and yellow gills

Nothing seemed promising so I looked and looked and found another resource that seemed better than blindly looking through herbarium records.

I used this key to NC Russulas and arrived at Russula pungens (aka Russula rubra) which could be a potential match. Everything matches except for the mention that the flesh is red under the cuticle- for mine it's white. I'll try to taste one and see if it's as painfully acrid as described. I'm just not very brave to have done it initially. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll be brave enough to try at all, actually.
Other similar species from that key include:
Russula alutacea deep yellow spores (darker than pungens) with a solid stem and mild taste with "antimony" yellow gills, which seems too dramatic for this observation. this species is maybe the same as R. ochraphylla
Russula tenuiceps but it's blushing
Russula sanguina (spores lighter than pungens)
Russula atropurpurea has ochre spores, but a more purpley cap

Another species I'm considering based on similar appearance is Russula cystidiosa, red cap/white stipe, unbruising, but taste is mild, spore print is light/creamy, and Kuo says it's NJ to IL.

12/12 Update! I got another specimen near where I found this one and tasted it! It was spicy! Another puzzle piece! Waiting on a spore print to confirm its the same species.
I also went to pick another and the entire skin of the stipe pulled up with the cap, but it was entirely hollow bc larvae had taken over the insides. I feel bad removing a safe place for bugs to grow so I'll pick less of these as time goes on. I do think it's funny that its spicy though bc I saw on with a bite taken out of it a week or so ago. Funny how that animal didn't finish the whole thing. Regardless, I don't want to affect the ecosystem too much more than I have already in my pursuit of answers.

Posted on December 12, 2022 03:42 PM by