Hygrophorus russula
The Agaricaeae of Michigan p.185. 1918.
Common Name: none
Basionym: Agaricus russula Schaeff.
For descriptions see Hesler & Smith, Hesler & Smith, & Kauffman.
Scattered to gregarious, occasionally in arcs or rings, under hardwoods, especially Chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla) and Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus). Uncommon from Santa Cruz county north.
Edible and good.
From a distance Hygrophorus russula has the appearance of a Russula, but the waxy gills and fibrous flesh rule out that genus. Hygrophorus purpurascens is similar but has a partial veil and grows under montane conifers. Hygrophorus russula could be confused with Hygrophorus erubescens, but it is paler pinkish cap and grows with Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).
Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 959 p.
Bas, C., Kyper, T.W., Noordeloos, M.E. & Vellinga, E.C. (1990). Flora Agaricina Neerlandica—Critical monographs on the families of agarics and boleti occuring in the Netherlands. Volume 2. Pleurotaceae, Pluteaceae, Tricholomataceae. A. A. Balkema: Rotterdam, Netherlands. 137 p.
Hesler, L.R. & Smith, A.H. (1963). North American Species of Hygrophorus. University of Tennessee Press: Knoxville, TN. 416 p. (PDF) (Sp. description)
Kauffman, C.H. (1918). The Agaricaceae of Michigan. Michigan Geological and Biological Survey: Ann Arbor, MI. 924 p. (PDF) (Sp. description)
Knudsen, H. & Vesterholt, J. ed. (2008). Funga Nordica: Agaricoid, boletoid and cyphelloid genera. Nordsvamp: Copenhagen, Denmark. 965 p.
Knudsen, H. & Vesterholt, J. ed. (2012). Funga Nordica: Agaricoid, boletoid, clavarioid, cyphelloid and gastroid genera. Vol. 1. Nordsvamp: Copenhagen, Denmark. 511 p.
Largent, D.L. (1985). The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 5. Hygrophoraceae. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 208 p.
Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
