Blue-yellow russula (Russula cyanoxantha) photo and description

Russula blue-yellow (lat.Russula cyanoxantha)

Systematics:
  • Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
  • Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
  • Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
  • Subclass: Incertae sedis (undefined)
  • Order: Russulales
  • Family: Russulaceae (Russula)
  • Genus: Russula (Russula)
  • Species: Russula cyanoxantha (Blue-yellow russula)

Russula blue-yellow

The cap of this mushroom can have a wide variety of colors and many shades. Most often it is purple, gray-green, blue-gray, the middle can be ocher or yellow, and the edges are pink. During wet weather, the surface of the cap becomes shiny, slimy and sticky, acquires a radial fibrous structure. At first, the blue-yellow russula has a semicircular shape, then it becomes convex, and later acquires a flat appearance with a depression in the middle. The head diameter ranges from 50 to 160 mm. The mushroom plates are frequent, soft, unbreakable, about 10mm wide, rounded at the edges, free at the stem. At the beginning of development, they are white, and then turn yellowish.

The leg is cylindrical, fragile and porous, can be up to 12 cm high and up to 3 cm thick. Often its surface is wrinkled, usually white, but some places can be painted in a pale purple color.

The mushroom has white flesh, firm and juicy, does not change color on the cut. There is no special smell, the taste is nutty. Spore powder is white.

Russula blue-yellow

The russula blue-yellow is common in deciduous and coniferous forests, can grow both in the mountains and in the lowlands. The growth period is from June to November.

Among russula, this mushroom is one of the most delicious, it can be used as a side dish for meat dishes, or cooked. Young fruiting bodies can also be pickled.

Another russula is very similar to this mushroom - the gray russula (Russula palumbina Quel), which is characterized by a purple-gray cap, white, and in some places pinkish, a leg, fragile white plates. Gray russula grows in deciduous forests, it can be harvested in summer and autumn.