Complete picture guide to red mushroom species, introducing you to the varieties of red mushrooms

Red mushrooms, also known as red mushrooms, big vermilion mushrooms, true red mushrooms, big red mushrooms, etc., are fungi of the genus Russula in the family Russulaceae. The fruiting body is generally medium-sized. Wild red mushrooms cannot be cultivated artificially, and the yield is not high. The common species mainly include Russula vinosa, Russula emetica, Russula virescens, etc. Now let us take a look at the complete picture guide to red mushroom species!

Russula vinosa

Russula vinosa, also known as true red mushroom, big red mushroom, red cone fungus, big red fungus, big vermilion mushroom, etc., is a precious edible fungus. It is delicious and has high nutritional value. Besides being edible, it can also be used medicinally. The fruiting body is generally medium-sized, growing in groups on the ground in broad-leaved forests in summer and autumn. It is distributed in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Fujian, and Yunnan, and is especially abundant in northwestern Fujian and the Gaoligong Mountain area of Yunnan.

Russula emetica

Russula emetica, also known as vomiting red mushroom, coffin lid, small red-face fungus, etc., looks similar to red mushrooms, but its fruiting body is generally smaller. After eating it, it mainly causes gastrointestinal inflammation, such as severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Generally, timely induced vomiting is used for treatment. In severe cases, facial muscle spasms, heart weakness, or circulatory failure may lead to death. It is distributed in Hebei, Jilin, Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Fujian, Hunan, and other places.

Color-changing red mushroom

The cap of the color-changing red mushroom is 5-12 cm wide, hemispherical and then flat with the center slightly depressed, sticky when wet, highly variable in color, red to reddish brown, chestnut brown, light purple to purplish red, etc., sometimes partly fading to deep eggshell color. The skin can be partly peeled off. It grows on the ground in forests and is distributed in Jilin, Hebei, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Fujian, Sichuan, and other places.

Rosy russula

Rosy russula, also known as bitter red mushroom, peach blossom fungus, red chili, etc., is edible. The fruiting body is small or medium-sized, and the cap is 4-7 cm in diameter. It is initially hemispherical to flat hemispherical, later gradually flattening with the center depressed, rose red or nearly blood red or with vermilion. In summer and autumn, it grows scattered or in groups on the ground in mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests. It is distributed in Liaoning, Jilin, Henan, Sichuan, Hunan, Guangdong, Yunnan, Zhejiang, Fujian, and other places.

Russula virescens

Russula virescens, also known as green-headed fungus, green lid, green fungus, green mushroom, Qinggang fungus, etc., has a medium to slightly large fruiting body. The cap is initially spherical, quickly becomes flat hemispherical and gradually spreads out, with the center often slightly depressed, not sticky, light green to grayish green. The surface often has patchy cracking, and the edge is striped when old. It is edible and delicious. It is mainly produced in the primitive forest area of the "Three Parallel Rivers" region in western Yunnan, where the growing environment is extremely pure. It mainly grows in grass in forests and produces mushrooms from June to September every year.

Pear russula

Pear russula, also known as pear mushroom, has a generally medium-sized fruiting body. The cap is 5-10 cm in diameter, flat hemispherical, with the center depressed after flattening, eventually nearly funnel-shaped, light greenish brown, greenish gray, pinkish gray, slightly sticky when wet or after rain, often with fine cracking, and the edge has no stripes, or has inconspicuous stripes when old. The flesh is white. In summer and autumn, it grows singly to in groups on the ground in broad-leaved forests. It is distributed in Fujian, Hubei, Guangdong, Guizhou, Sichuan, and other places.