Beautiful Russula
(Russula pulchra)
Information
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
not listed
NatureServe
not listed
Minnesota
not listed
Description
Beautiful Russula is a common, large, brightly colored mushroom. It is found on the ground in hardwood and mixed hardwood and coniferous forests from July to September. It grows on the roots of oaks and other hardwoods.
The cap is convex when young. As it ages it flattens and sometimes develops a shallow depression at the center. It is scarlet to pinkish red, dull, sticky, and
The gills are white, well spaced, and attached to the stalk.
The stalk is fairly smooth, white, often flushed with pink,
The flesh is white. Like all Russulas, it is brittle, not fibrous, leading to the common name for this genus, Brittlegill. If you hold the stalk and push up on the cap, the cap will snap off cleanly. The taste is mild.
The spores are pale cream in color.
Similar Species
Russula flavisiccans stem is never flushed with pink. The taste is somewhat bitter and unpleasant.
Habitat and Hosts
Oaks and other hardwoods
Ecology
Season
July to September
Distribution
Occurrence
Common
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Fungi (Fungi)
Subkingdom
Dikarya
Phylum
Basidiomycota (Basidiomycete Fungi)
Subphylum
Agaricomycotina (Higher Basidiomycetes)
Class
Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms, Bracket Fungi, Puffballs, and Allies)
Order
Russulales
Family
Russulaceae (Milkcaps, Brittlegills, and Allies)
Genus
Subgenus
Russula
Subordinate Taxa
Synonyms
Common Names
Beautiful Russula
Scarlet-red Capped Russula
Photos
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Grace Carlson
Kimberly Muenchow
Minnesota Seasons Photos
Slideshows
Slideshows
Videos
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Other Videos
Sightings
Visitor Sightings
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BigMike
9/19/2022
Location: Brook Park, MN
found on Tunnel Road, a clump of 2, one was around 4" cap other one was about 2", found growing alongside the shoulder of the road in a pile of dumped yard leaves.
BigMike
9/17/2022
Location: Quarry Park - Waite Park, MN
had 1, about 2" cap, right on the edge of the walking path, in leaves. Animals clearly had been chewing it.
Lisa Tenter
8/16/2020
Location: Dent, MN (Ottertail County)
Found one mushroom in leaf litter in deeply shaded area in heavily wooded area.
Carrie Schunk
9/29/2018
Location: Lake County
Grace Carlson
9/15/2018
Location: Rice County, MN
Latitude: 44.424597
Longitude: -93.334006
there are two mushrooms, one growing in the middle of a path covered with small pebbles and one growing in the leaf litter. It’s currently 88° outside.
Cassandra Lenhard
8/11/2018
Location: railroad trail between Taylor's Falls MN and Interstate State Park (MN)
Kimberly Muenchow
7/1/2018
Location: Afton, MN
the perfect red mushroom
Gregg
6/27/2018
Location: SE Rochester, Minnesota
One lone mushroom. Very Magenta Red.
Kirk Nelson
8/14/2017
Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park