Russula cyanoxantha

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Russula cyanoxantha

Russula cyanoxantha

Kingdom:	Fungus
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Subclass:	Agaricomycetidae
Order:	Russulales
Family:	Russulaceae
Genus:	Russula
Species:	R. cyanoxantha

Binomial name

Russula cyanoxantha
(Schaeff.) Fr.

Russula cyanoxantha
mycological characteristics:
gills on hymenium
cap is flat or convex
hymenium is free
stipe is bare
spore print is white
ecology is mycorrhizal
edibility: edible

Russula cyanoxantha, commonly known as the Charcoal burner, is a basidiomycete mushroom, distinguished from most other members of the Russula genus by the fact that its gills do not split, but are soft and flexible. It is one of the most common species of Russula in Europe.

It is an edible mushroom. It was designated Mushroom of the Year in 1997 by the German Association of Mycology.

[edit] Description

The most salient characteristic is the weak gills, which feel greasy to the touch, are flexible and do not break. The cap is 4-10 cm wide, convex at first and later flattened, and greenish to bright brown (they vary considerably in color). The stipe is pure white, slightly convex underneath, up to 10 cm in height and 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter. The spores are pure white. The stipe will give a green reaction when rubbed with iron salts (Ferrous Sulphate). Most other (but not all) russula species give a salmon reaction. Coupled with the gill flexibility this is a good diagnostic clue to species level.

[edit] Distribution and habitat

Russula cyanoxantha grows in slightly acidic, but nutrient-rich soil. Like all Russulas, it is a mycorrhizal fungus. They appear from May to November, with the highest concentration in July to September.