Russula vesca

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Russula vesca
Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Class: Homobasidiomycetae Subclass: Hymenomycetes Order: Russulales Family: Russulaceae Genus: Russula Species: R. vesca
Binomial name
Russula vesca Fr.

Russula vesca, known by the common names of Bare-toothed russula or The Flirt, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula.

Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Edibility 4 References

[edit] Description

The skin of the cap typically does not reach the margins. Cap 5–10 cm wide,flat, convex, or with slightly depressed centre, weakly sticky, colour brownish to dark brick-red. Taste mild. Gills close apart, white. The stipe narrows toward the base, 2–7 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, white. Spore print is white.

[edit] Distribution and habitat

Russula vesca grows primarily in deciduous forests in Europe.

[edit] Edibility

Russula vesca is edible and good. However, it is poisonous in the raw state, and as such must be cooked to release the toxins that are contained within the mushroom. This does not make it a poisonous fungus: it is treated in the same way as kidney beans are.

[edit] References

• "Danske storsvampe. Basidiesvampe" [a key to Danish basidiomycetes] J.H. Petersen and J. Vesterholt eds. Gyldendal. Viborg, Denmark, 1990. ISBN 87-01-09932-9