Russula nigricans
Encyclopedia
Russula nigricans, commonly known as the blackening brittlegill or blackening russula, is a gilled mushroom found in woodland in Europe. It gains both its common
and scientific name from its propensity to turn black from cutting or bruising. It is edible
but of indifferent quality.
. It was first described by the French mycologist Pierre Bulliard
in 1798 as Agaricus nigricans, before gaining its current binomial name from the father of mycology, the Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries
. Its specific epithet is the Latin
nigricans 'blackening'.
, and it has a cap
that is dirty white when young, but swiftly turns brown, and then black on aging. It measures 5–20 cm (2–8 in) in diameter. There is usually a large depression in the centre of mature caps, which are three quarter peeling. The stem
is white; firm; straight, and thick, and it too blackens with age. The gills are off-white initially, very widely spaced, and are adnate. These turn red; then grey, and finally black, when bruised. The flesh, which has a fruity smell, when cut turns pale Indian red, and then grey, and black within 20 minutes. The spore print
is white, and the warty oval spores measure 7–8 x 6–7 μm
.
Old specimens are sometimes parasitised by fungi of the genus Asterophora
or Nyctalis, in particular the species N. parasitica and N. asterophora (the pick-a-back toadstool).
, but poor. The taste becomes hot over time.
) Fries
, has closer gills and is far less common. It lacks the red phase of colouration when the flesh is cut.
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...
and scientific name from its propensity to turn black from cutting or bruising. It is edible
Edible mushroom
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruiting bodies of several species of fungi. Mushrooms belong to the macrofungi, because their fruiting structures are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand...
but of indifferent quality.
Taxonomy
It is placed in the Compactae group, subsection Nigricantinae by BonBon
BON, Bon, or bon may refer to:Places:* Cap Bon, a peninsula in Tunisia* Flamingo International Airport, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles...
. It was first described by the French mycologist Pierre Bulliard
Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard
Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard was a French physician and botanist....
in 1798 as Agaricus nigricans, before gaining its current binomial name from the father of mycology, the Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
. Its specific epithet is 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...
nigricans 'blackening'.
Description
This is a large member of the genus RussulaRussula
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...
, and it has a cap
Pileus (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...
that is dirty white when young, but swiftly turns brown, and then black on aging. It measures 5–20 cm (2–8 in) in diameter. There is usually a large depression in the centre of mature caps, which are three quarter peeling. The stem
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 white; firm; straight, and thick, and it too blackens with age. The gills are off-white initially, very widely spaced, and are adnate. These turn red; then grey, and finally black, when bruised. The flesh, which has a fruity smell, when cut turns pale Indian red, and then grey, and black within 20 minutes. The 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...
is white, and the warty oval spores measure 7–8 x 6–7 μm
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
.
Old specimens are sometimes parasitised by fungi of the genus Asterophora
Asterophora
Asterophora is a genus of fungi that grow as parasites on mushrooms. The genus contains three species, which have a widespread distribution, especially in temperate areas.Asterophora species are characterized by the massive production of chlamydospores in their fruit bodies and by the production of...
or Nyctalis, in particular the species N. parasitica and N. asterophora (the pick-a-back toadstool).
Distribution and habitat
Russula nigricans appears in late summer and autumn in both deciduous and coniferous woodland across Britain, Northern Europe, and at least the East Coast of North America.Edibility
This mushroom is edibleEdible mushroom
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruiting bodies of several species of fungi. Mushrooms belong to the macrofungi, because their fruiting structures are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand...
, but poor. The taste becomes hot over time.
Similar species
Russula anthracina (Romagn.), also known as R. albonigra (Krombh.Julius Vincenz von Krombholz
Julius Vincenz von Krombholz was a physician and mycologist born in Oberpolitz , northern Bohemia....
) Fries
Elias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
, has closer gills and is far less common. It lacks the red phase of colouration when the flesh is cut.