Russula ilicis is one amongst the numerous species of the genus Russula thriving in places with oaks and holm oaks in the Mediterranean area, that is commonplace in the counties of Bages and Moianès. In these counties, the Catalan name “cuagra” applies to any of the often very difficult to distinguish species of Russula. The genus Russula contains roughly one thousand described species.
Russula ilicis grows in any humid period from spring to early autumn, among the leaf litter in the forest clearings.
Russula ilicis is a robust mushroom with short stem and a thick, from 5 to 10 cm diameter cap. The stem is deeply sunken, so the cap is usually at ground level. Initially the cap margins are involute, though at the end of the development the cap becomes flat or slightly concave. The cap cuticle displays a blend of not homogeneous, neither constant amongst individuals, soft colour where a shade of blue, purple, greyish or greenish predominates on the margins while yellow or brownish predominates on the depressed centre. The stem and the gills are white. The flesh of the cap that can be seen through incidental holes in the cuticle is also white. Both flesh and gills turn cream or pinkish by rubbing.
Russula ilicis is edible, that’s why it can be known. The mushroom collector can mix up R.ilicis with R.cyanoxantha, R.heterophylla or R.virescens with no serious consequences because all these species of Russula with blue-green-violet cuticle are good to eat.
[photos Jordi Badia]