A Woodland Russula

A Woodland Russula

Mycology professors are a unique breed. Mine taught me how to identity a Russula in the field: You pick the mushroom and throw it against the ground or a tree trunk. If it explodes into smithereens, it's a Russula. Now that I can identify it, I don't have to do that every time. So this giant Russula, about 7 inches in diameter, lived out its short life uninterrupted. Russula sp.

Categories: [Sierra Mixed Conifer]  [fungi & mushrooms]  

Latest Comment

  • Thanks for the cool pic and mycology lesson. But now that I have a dog who often acts like a vacuum cleaner, I'm overly concerned whether the 'shrooms are poisonous or not. Last winter quite a few dogs in Berkeley died from eating Amanitas, in of all places, a dog park. Do you know if other deadly 'shrooms are prevalent in the area?
    Mindy | iPhone Photo Fun @ 12-15-2010
  • That is really sad to hear. People have died too. There are a lot of poisonous mushrooms in Northern California - and even more that are not poisonous. The best pictorial identification book is All That the Rain Promises and More by the Santa Cruz hipster David Aurora. This is a pocket guide starter book, but it can still be hard. (You will learn the edible ones too though!) Wild Gulch says the surest protection is don't let your dog eat any mushrooms until you are comfortable identifying them.
    Jane @ 12-16-2010
  • Thanks, Jane. I know experts can't always tell at first glance... And for most part, the doggies ignore mushrooms, but every once in a while like with the Amanitas, their sweetness attracts the dogs.
    Mindy | iPhone Photo Fun @ 12-16-2010
  • Great find..and such exquisite detail. These are among my favorite photographic subjects!!!
    Marcie @ 12-16-2010
  • So the assumption that mushrooms with white gills are poisonous is correct? This is beautiful--and also deadly?
    Elaine @ 12-16-2010
  • WG knows of no such assumption about white-gilled mushrooms.
    Jane @ 12-19-2010
  • The Woodland Russula is among my favorite edibles. If it smells a bit like shrimp or fish before cooking it, the odor goes away and leaves one tasty treat!
    Shon @ 10-07-2013

Add Comment   View All ( 7)
A Woodland Russula

A Woodland Russula

Mycology professors are a unique breed. Mine taught me how to identity a Russula in the field: You pick the mushroom and throw it against the ground or a tree trunk. If it explodes into smithereens, it's a Russula. Now that I can identify it, I don't have to do that every time. So this giant Russula, about 7 inches in diameter, lived out its short life uninterrupted. Russula sp.

Categories: [Sierra Mixed Conifer]  [fungi & mushrooms]  

Latest Comment

  • Thanks for the cool pic and mycology lesson. But now that I have a dog who often acts like a vacuum cleaner, I'm overly concerned whether the 'shrooms are poisonous or not. Last winter quite a few dogs in Berkeley died from eating Amanitas, in of all places, a dog park. Do you know if other deadly 'shrooms are prevalent in the area?
    Mindy | iPhone Photo Fun @ 12-15-2010
  • That is really sad to hear. People have died too. There are a lot of poisonous mushrooms in Northern California - and even more that are not poisonous. The best pictorial identification book is All That the Rain Promises and More by the Santa Cruz hipster David Aurora. This is a pocket guide starter book, but it can still be hard. (You will learn the edible ones too though!) Wild Gulch says the surest protection is don't let your dog eat any mushrooms until you are comfortable identifying them.
    Jane @ 12-16-2010
  • Thanks, Jane. I know experts can't always tell at first glance... And for most part, the doggies ignore mushrooms, but every once in a while like with the Amanitas, their sweetness attracts the dogs.
    Mindy | iPhone Photo Fun @ 12-16-2010
  • Great find..and such exquisite detail. These are among my favorite photographic subjects!!!
    Marcie @ 12-16-2010
  • So the assumption that mushrooms with white gills are poisonous is correct? This is beautiful--and also deadly?
    Elaine @ 12-16-2010
  • WG knows of no such assumption about white-gilled mushrooms.
    Jane @ 12-19-2010
  • The Woodland Russula is among my favorite edibles. If it smells a bit like shrimp or fish before cooking it, the odor goes away and leaves one tasty treat!
    Shon @ 10-07-2013

Add Comment   View All ( 7)