Russula fellea
Encyclopedia
The mushroom
Russula fellea goes by the common name
of the geranium-scented Russula, or bitter Russule and is a member of the Russula
genus, all of which are commonly known as brittlegills. It is straw or honey coloured and in Britain grows in beech woods during autumn. It is inedible.
, initially as Agaricus felleus, before being placed in the genus Russula in 1838. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin
adjective felleus meaning "biliary", in reference to its bitter taste, reminiscent of bile
.
is usually 4–9 cm wide, and convex, flattening later, and often with a broad central boss (umbo
). It is sometimes furrowed at the margin when mature. The similarly coloured, but paler stipe
is firm and stout, and is 2–6 cm high by 1–2 cm wide. The gills are adnexed, and are the same colour as the stem, giving a spore print
that is white to pale cream. The flesh is white, and does not change colour on cutting. It tastes hot, and often has a bitter tang. The smell is variously reported to resemble geraniums, or apple sauce.
) in Britain, but in Europe
it sometimes occurs with spruce (Picea). It is normally associated with well-drained acid soils, and is widespread in the northern temperate zones; Britain
; Europe
, and Asia
. It is not present in North America
where it is replaced by the closely related R.simillima. It grows in deciduous
and coniferous woods, and forests.
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
Russula fellea goes by the common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
of the geranium-scented Russula, or bitter Russule and is a member of the Russula
Russula
Around 750 worldwide species of mycorrhizal mushrooms compose the genus Russula. They are typically common, fairly large, and brightly colored - making them one of the most recognizable genera among mycologists and mushroom collectors...
genus, all of which are commonly known as brittlegills. It is straw or honey coloured and in Britain grows in beech woods during autumn. It is inedible.
Taxonomy
It was first described and named in 1821 by the Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus FriesElias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
, initially as Agaricus felleus, before being placed in the genus Russula in 1838. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
adjective felleus meaning "biliary", in reference to its bitter taste, reminiscent of bile
Bile
Bile or gall is a bitter-tasting, dark green to yellowish brown fluid, produced by the liver of most vertebrates, that aids the process of digestion of lipids in the small intestine. In many species, bile is stored in the gallbladder and upon eating is discharged into the duodenum...
.
Description
The capPileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
is usually 4–9 cm wide, and convex, flattening later, and often with a broad central boss (umbo
Umbo
Umbo may refer to:*A shield boss* umbo , at the top of some mushrooms*The Umbo of tympanic membrane - a part of the human body*Umbo is the part of a Bivalve shell which was formed when the animal was a juvenile...
). It is sometimes furrowed at the margin when mature. The similarly coloured, but paler stipe
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
is firm and stout, and is 2–6 cm high by 1–2 cm wide. The gills are adnexed, and are the same colour as the stem, giving a spore print
Spore print
thumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
that is white to pale cream. The flesh is white, and does not change colour on cutting. It tastes hot, and often has a bitter tang. The smell is variously reported to resemble geraniums, or apple sauce.
Distribution and habitat
Russula fellea appears in autumn, and is found with beech (FagusBeech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
) in Britain, but in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
it sometimes occurs with spruce (Picea). It is normally associated with well-drained acid soils, and is widespread in the northern temperate zones; Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
; Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. It is not present in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
where it is replaced by the closely related R.simillima. It grows in deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
and coniferous woods, and forests.