Russula belong to the genus of lamellar mushrooms. Among the whole variety of species, there are both edible and poisonous specimens. All of them have a very similar structure of the stem and cap, so they may look almost the same. Their caps resemble hemispheres, as they age, they become flat or even turned inside out and take the shape of a funnel.
The diameter of the cap can reach 15 cm, and the height is 10-12 cm, its color varies from greenish-brown tones in edible russula species to bright red in poisonous representatives of this family. The stem is usually white or yellowish, and has a cylindrical shape. Some types of russula may have a pinkish stem. The pulp is firm and white, but over time it becomes crumbly and very fragile.
Where russula mushrooms grow (with photo)
To be sure to harvest a 'safe crop', you need to know not only what they look like, but also where russula mushrooms grow and what time it is best to harvest them. The growing area is wide enough; they are found in Asia, America and Europe. Where do russula grow, what type of terrain is favorable for their development? This mushroom feels great both in deciduous and coniferous forests, you can find them in young birch undergrowth, on swampy river banks and even in a city park.
They begin to break through the thickness of the earth already in spring, but a massive harvest is observed in late summer – early autumn. It is not possible to grow this type of mushroom under artificial conditions, since each individual species is in close symbiosis with certain natural and biological conditions. The photo shows where russules grow, and exactly how edible specimens look like:
