Russula virescens

Russula virescens
Mushroom cap with small green patches on a light green surface. The cap becomes greener towards the center as the concentrations of patches increases; the center of the cap surface is depressed.
The underside of a mushroom cap, lying on the forest floor, showing white lines arranged radially around them central white stipe; the lines are packed closely together, with little space between them
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Russulales
Family: Russulaceae
Genus: Russula
Species:
R. virescens
Binomial name
Russula virescens
(Schaeff.) Fr. (1836)
Synonyms[2]
  • Agaricus virescens Schaeff. (1774)
  • Russula furcata var. aeruginosa Pers. (1796)
  • Agaricus caseosus Wallr. (1883)
  • Russula virescens var. albidocitrina Gillet (1876)[1]
Russula virescens
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Gills on hymenium
Cap is convex or flat
Hymenium is adnate
Stipe is bare
Spore print is white to yellow
Ecology is mycorrhizal
Edibility is choice

Russula virescens is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula, and is commonly known as the green-cracking russula, the quilted green russula, or the green brittlegill. It can be recognized by its distinctive pale green cap that measures up to 15 cm (6 in) in diameter, the surface of which is covered with darker green angular patches. It has crowded white gills, and a firm, white stipe that is up to 8 cm (3 in) tall and 4 cm (1.6 in) thick. Considered to be one of the best edible mushrooms of the genus Russula, it is especially popular in Spain and China. With a taste that is described variously as mild, nutty, fruity, or sweet, it is cooked by grilling, frying, sautéeing, or eaten raw. Mushrooms are rich in carbohydrates and proteins, with a low fat content.

The species was described as new to science in 1774 by Jacob Christian Schaeffer. Its distribution encompasses Asia, North Africa, Europe, and Central America. Its presence in North America has not been clarified, due to confusion with the similar species Russula parvovirescens and R. crustosa. R. virescens fruits singly or scattered on the ground in both deciduous and mixed forests, forming mycorrhizal associations with broadleaf trees such as oak, European beech, and aspen. In Asia, it associates with several species of tropical lowland rainforest trees of the family Dipterocarpaceae. R. virescens has a ribonuclease enzyme with a biochemistry unique among edible mushrooms. It also has biologically active polysaccharides, and a laccase enzyme that can break down several dyes used in the laboratory and in the textile industry.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gillet 1876 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference urlMycoBank: Russula virescens was invoked but never defined (see the help page).