Russula foetens, commonly known as the stinking russula, is a common ''
Russula
''Russula'' is a very large genus composed of around 750 worldwide species of fungi. The genus was described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1796.
The mushrooms are fairly large, and brightly colored – making them one of the most recognizable ...
'' mushroom found in deciduous and coniferous forests.
Description
The
cap
A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. The origin of the word "cap" comes from the Old French word "chapeau" which means "head co ...
is hemispherical and very slimy when young, soon convex, honey yellow to ochre brown and up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter. The gills and spores are pale cream.
The strong stem is white or blotchy yellowish brown. The flesh has a strong acrid smell, when old it has a fishy smell and bad taste.
Edibility
Stinking russula is widely considered inedible. In countries like Russia it is used for traditional mushroom pickles after being soaked in water for several days to remove the strong taste, as with all other ''Russula'' species.
Such preservation method allows the use of many otherwise inedible
russula
''Russula'' is a very large genus composed of around 750 worldwide species of fungi. The genus was described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1796.
The mushrooms are fairly large, and brightly colored – making them one of the most recognizable ...
s and
milk-cap
Milk-cap (also milk cap, milkcap, or milky) is a common name that refers to mushroom-forming fungi of the genera ''Lactarius'', '' Lactifluus'', and '' Multifurca'', all in the family Russulaceae. The common and eponymous feature of their fruit ...
s in savoury pickles, which are considered a delicacy in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
See also
*
List of ''Russula'' species
References
*E. Garnweidner. ''Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe''. Collins. 1994.
External links
*
*
foetens
Fungi of Europe
Inedible fungi
Fungus species
Taxa named by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon
Fungi described in 1796
{{Russulales-stub