Russula 'purpureoflava group'

For general comments about the genus Russula, see: https://canberra.naturemapr.org/species/11809. The 'purpureoflava group' contains those species with a brownish-purple to reddish-purple colours in the surface of the cap. Cap diameters range from 5 to 10 centimetres, there being overlap in size between species. Cap colours may become dowdier with age or be diluted after rain, so there is little point in trying to put a species name on a photo of a less than perfect specimens.

Below are brief comments about the named species in the group. The genus Russula has not been well studied in Australia and so one wonders how many of these will remain distinct after further study. Contrariwise, there may be more purplish Russulas in Australia.

Russula clelandii

Cap: deep purplish vinaceous

Gills: white, but faintly creamy with age

Stem: deep red

Russula cyanoxantha

Cap: commonly a mottled mix from this range: purple, green, maroon, red, yellow

Gills: cream to yellowish

Stem:  white

This is a European species and, given that Russula cyanoxantha has been reported from native Australian forests, perhaps the name is being misused here for a still-undescribed native species. 

Russula lenkunya

Cap: brownish purple

Gills: white, becoming slightly discoloured with buff

Stem: pinkish-red to brownish-red

Grgurinovic described this new species, based on Australian specimens previously identified as the American species Russula mariae. Some field guides say the gill edges are often tinged red, but that was not noted in Grgurinovic's original description of the species.

Russula purpureoflava

Cap: purplish red to very dark purplish brown - occasionally with yellowish brown paler areas

Gills: light yellow to greyish yellow

Stem: pale, with rosy tints in upper area, becoming yellowish in lower area

Russula wollumbina

Cap: pallid whitish, blotched with brownish vermillion

Gills: pale buffy white

Stem: white with tinges of pink

Grgurinovic described this new species, based on Australian specimens previously identified as the European species Russula xerampelina.

References

Bougher, N.L. & Syme, K. (1998). Fungi of Southern Australia. Perth: University of Western Australia Press.

Grgurinovic, C.A. (1997). Larger Fungi of South Australia. The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium and The Flora and Fauna of South Australia Handbooks Committee, Adelaide.

Miller Jr., O.K & Hilton, R.N. (1986). New and Interesting Agarics from Western Australia, Sydowia, 39, 126-137.