We see more russulas than any other kind of mushroom, yet are least able to identify them to species. Many mycologists avoid them, too, because there are hundreds of species and so many of them look like each other. There are, for example, over 125 species of red Russula! Unfortunately (if you don’t care to become a russula ’nerd’), it is necessary to use detailed diagnostic features to determine the species of most russulas - including use of the microscope and a variety of chemicals. Some russulas, however, are fairly easy to learn to identify by careful observation of macro characteristics. For the most part, it is this latter group that we will focus on in the following presentation delivered to the spring 2017 FungiKingdom U. workshop members of the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association.
