Gray russula (Russula decolorans)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (undefined)
- Order: Russulales
- Family: Russulaceae (Russula)
- Genus: Russula (Russula)
- Species: Russula decolorans (Gray russula)
or
Russula fading
Gray russula ( lat.Russula decolorans ) is a type of mushroom included in the genus Russula of the Russulaceae family. One of the most easily identifiable European russula.
Gray russula grows in moist pine forests, often but not abundantly, from June to October.
The cap is fleshy , ∅ 12 cm, at first hemispherical , then flat, convex or
depressed , yellowish-red-orange or yellow-brown, with a thin slightly striped
edge. The skin is peeled off to half of the cap.
The pulp is white , gray at the break, the smell of mushroom, the taste is sweet at first, towards old age
acute.
The plates are frequent, thin, brittle, at first white, then yellowing, and finally gray.
The spore powder is pale ocher. Spores are ellipsoidal, prickly.
The leg is 6-10 cm long, ∅ 1-2 cm, dense, white, then gray.
The mushroom is edible, of the third category. The hat is eaten fresh and salted.
The russula is widespread in the spruce forests of Eurasia, as well as in North America, but in many countries it is rare and is listed in the local Red Data Books.