First Russula of the year.

[CloudedYellow]

Could I have some help with my first Russula of the year please?

Under birch, good size ~9cm across. Taste mild but a slightly hot after a short while, smell very faintly of geraniums. Peels 1/3 to 1/2. Stipe has a very faint pink flush. Slightly creamy gills with spore colour D-E light yellow-ochre. Is this velenovskyi?



Thanks

[fairplay]

Yes, it's his Piano Concerto in A Flat minor, if not it could be something by Bjork.

Sorry Clouded Yellow, I'm scarred of Russula's, I leave them to the experts.

Neil.

[CloudedYellow]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Yes, it's his Piano Concerto in A Flat minor, if not it could be something by Bjork.

Sorry Clouded Yellow, I'm scarred of Russula's, I leave them to the experts.

Neil.

Some seem to have the knack of just looking at them and giving an opinion, I guess that's down to experience. George Kibby's synoptic keys are very useful but I cannot get this one to key out.

Richard

[mykonik]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Yes, it's his Piano Concerto in A Flat minor, if not it could be something by Bjork.

Sorry Clouded Yellow, I'm scarred of Russula's, I leave them to the experts.

Neil.

That makes two of us Neil ! Especially from photo's !

Nick

[Leif]

I recommend collecting nearby slugs, and placing them on the cap. They love 'em.

[fairplay]

Just for the record : It should be Geoffrey Kibby's.....keys, not 'George' (makes Geoffrey sound 20 years older !)

Neil

[CloudedYellow]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Just for the record : It should be Geoffrey Kibby's.....keys, not 'George' (makes Geoffrey sound 20 years older !)

Neil

Yes, thanks Neil. My apologies to him. His book is excellent.

Richard

[shroomboy]

Going by the details you provide and features of the pic, the time of year and the host tree it most likely that you have Russula exalbicans this species does vary a lot though, and eventually becomes almost white. To be absolutely sure you would have to get under the scope I'm afraid.

Hope this helps

Andy

[CloudedYellow]

Originally Posted by shroomboy

Going by the details you provide and features of the pic, the time of year and the host tree it most likely that you have Russula exalbicans this species does vary a lot though, and eventually becomes almost white. To be absolutely sure you would have to get under the scope I'm afraid.
Andy

Andy,

I have only just spotted your reply and am well impressed! I spent a couple of hours yesterday pm doing what I should have done before making a guess at velenovskyi. It is exalbicans!

My proper notes include:

Three Russula under birch in damp ground.
One youngish, the other two falling to bits
Large and quite stout.

Pileus - largest was ~11cm across (Bon say this sp can be up to 15cm).
The 'younger' one a quite deepish red/crimson colour, fading quite quickly (even in the fridge) in the middle leaving a greenish tinge. The older two has already faded save for some pinking around the edges.
Flattened, sl depressed at centre but no umbo. Peels to 1/2.

Gills cream, quite close with a few branching. Adnexed.
Stipe turning glaucous grey with a definite faint rosy flush in places.
FeSO4 > greyish rose.

Taste slightly acrid. No smell in the field after being in the container for a while there was a faintly musty / fruity smell.

Spore shade D-E

Microscopy - spores oval, approx 10x6u with lowish warts (not spines) and a few connectives. Dermatocystidia present - stain with SV, cylindrical, some narrowly clavate, occasional single septum.






Richard

[shroomboy]

Hi Richard,

These Russula's can be very tricky hey? it is so easy to forget from year to the next isn't it?

Pleased to be of help.

Andy