Russula cremoricolor, also known as the winter russula, is a species of gilled mushroom.[1] This mushroom has red, cream-yellow, and pink color variants, which complicates attempts at field identification,[2][3] although finding "red and creamy capped fruitbodies in close proximity is a good clue indicating this species".[4] The winter russula is "mildly toxic,"[4] and causes intestinal distress even when consumed in small amounts.[2] The red morph was previously identified as Russula silvicola,[2][3] but was found to be genetically identical to the cream-colored individuals called R. cremoricolor.[4] The red morph is superficially similar to Russula californiensis but R. cremicolor has a much sharper, peppier taste, likes to associate with mixed forest or tanoak rather than pine, and keeps its gills and stipe white even in age.[4]

Russula cremoricolor
Russula cremoricolor, San Mateo County, California, 2019
Pink morph, Shasta National Forest, 2018
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Russulales
Family: Russulaceae
Genus: Russula
Species:
R. cremoricolor
Binomial name
Russula cremoricolor
Earle (1902)
Russula cremoricolor
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Cap is convex or depressed
Hymenium is adnexed or adnate
Stipe is bare
Spore print is white
Edibility is poisonous

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Winter Russula (Russula cremoricolor)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  2. ^ a b c Davis; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. California Natural History Guides Vol. 106. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 107–108. doi:10.1525/9780520953604. ISBN 9780520953604. JSTOR 10.1525/j.ctt1pn688. LCCN 2011037103. OCLC 797915861. S2CID 132384894.
  3. ^ a b Desjardin, Dennis E.; Wood, Michael G.; Stevens, Frederick A. (6 June 2016). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press. pp. 63–64. ISBN 978-1-60469-660-8. LCCN 2014000925. OCLC 951644583.
  4. ^ a b c d Siegel, Noah; Schwarz, Christian (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fungi of Coastal Northern California. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. p. 229. ISBN 9781607748182. LCCN 2015027853. OCLC 956478776.