B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 33. 2002 (Budapest, 2002)

Vasas, Gizella: Interesting macrofungi in Hungary, IV. Three rare Russula species (Basidiomycetes, Russulales)

Studia bot. hung. 33, pp. 65-69, 2002 INTERESTING MACROFUNGI IN HUNGARY, IV. THREE RARE RUSSULA SPECIES (BASIDIOMYCETES, RUSSULALES) G. VASAS Department of Botany, Hungarian Natural History Museum H-1476 Budapest, Pf. 222, Hungary; E-mail: vasas@bot.nhmus.hu Three very rare Russula species (R. viscida, R. paludosa, R. cicatricata) of Hungary are presented. All of them are regarded as critically endangered species in Hungary. Key words: Hungary, Russula cicatricata, Russula paludosa, Russula viscida Russula viscida Kud0na 1919 Records and observations about its habitat features vary by authors. According to ROMAGNESI (1967) and MOSER (1983) it grows in coniferous forests (under spruce), while SCHAEFFER (1952) mentioned among species growing on acidic soil in deciduous and coniferous forests. ElNHELLINGER (1985) regarded it montane, high montane species based on several records from acidic soil in spruce forest and basic soil in mixed woods (Fagus and Abies). GALLI (1996) observed it most frequently in beech wood, but also found under conifers (Picea and Abies). KRIEGLSTEINER (2001) regarded it a typically beech wood species. Seldom he also found it in fir forests, and very rarely in deciduous, hornbeam-oak woods. Based on his measurements soil pH demand of R. viscida was considered as 5.5-7.5. Soils poor in nutrients and humus, somewhat acidic only on the surface are favoured by the species. The species is very rare in Hungary. The proposal for protection and the Red List of macrofungi (RIMÓCZI et al. 1999) include it among the critically endangered species. Until 2001 only 3 records were known from Hungary (BABOS 1989): on basic soil in beech woods in the Buda Mts (at Normafa), on acidic soil in oak wood in the Aggtelek National Park, and also on acidic soil in oak wood in the Visegrád mountains (at Tahi) (VASAS 1991). Recently, in summer 2001 several fruitbodies were found on acidic soil in a humid beech wood in the Mátra Mts (near Mátraháza). The similarity with Russula atropurpurea caused difficulties during identification. Both species have the same features of the cap: original colour, appearance of yellow-brown spots with age, reddish rose colour of the margin of the cap. However, the cap of R. viscida is dark purple-brown, purple-olive, then ochraceous brown, olivaceous yellow, and that of R. atropurpurea is black-purple, wine-red or