1st attempt at Russulas...

[stickman]

As it's only my second season, I'm trying to ID at least one fungus a day.

Well today I was faced with just about nothing but Russulas, so on my way home I bravely (or stupidly) grabbed a few to ID:

They were growing in a rough ring around an old oak. Stipes and cap margin flushed with purple (especially with age). Gills noticeably greasy. Cap peels to one third. Smells exactly like pork scatchings.

what do you thing as R. violeipes as an ID? My first Russula so a second opionion would be ace.

Thanks, Nick.

[mollisia]

Hallo Nick,

yes, this is a very typical collection and there is not the slightest doubt that it is Russula violeipes. The colour mix like blueberry juice with vanilla sauce is highly significant, but not always the violet colours are present. Those sometime occuring purely yellow forms are called var. citrina.

best regards,
Andreas

[stickman]

Thanks Andreas,

I don't know what everyone's on about these Russulas are eeeeaasy

[mollisia]

Originally Posted by stickman

I don't know what everyone's on about these Russulas are eeeeaasy

Hi, I totally agree with you - compared with Telamonia, Melanoleuca or Mollisia at least

Andreas

[stickman]

Well I don't know about any of those, but now I have a 100% success rate with Russulas I'm going to forget about them entirely and find a new genus...

[mollisia]

Hello,

good idea! And if you wish to keep your percentage through the whole genus, may be the next genera to do could be Sarcosphaera or Catathelasma ....

best regards,
Andreas

[Stewy]

Fancy a stab at this then stickman? All I can tell you is it was growing with birch and oak and that's it I'm afraid.

[mollisia]

Hello,

if you still have it and have a chance for microscopy, then compare to Russula velenovskyi.
If you don't have - no determination possible.

best regards,
Andreas

[stickman]

You haven't exactly made it easy.... you could have at least given it a sniff!

Anyway, I'm on Cortinarius now

Cheers, Nick.