#57 Russula persanguinea

Notice the striations around the rim of the cap

A characteristic feature of identification of Russula species is the snapping like chalk of a fresh stem.  A pure white stem of Russula persanguinea will distinguish this species from Russula. aff. rosacea which has a pale pink stem.

Russula persanguinea is mychorrhizal with eucalypt roots and is found in wetter areas of eastern states of Australia, as well as Western Australia. It can be found fruiting at the base of live eucalypts, on the ground where there is buried wood, as well as around the base of dead eucalypt stumps. I am led to believe that it is the only species of Russula that fruits on dead wood, but I have not substantiated this.

Cap (up to about 70mm) is red, convex at first, broadening and flattening with maturity, usually with a shallow central depression where the colour is darker. The cap is viscid (or slippery) when wet, and striated around the rim at maturity. [There are no hints of purple or yellow]  Gills are white, crowded, and all of the same length.  Stem (up to about 70mm) is white, solid when young, and often thickening towards the base.  Spore print is white.

Toxicity: Some Russula species are known to be poisonous, so, although I have found no specific information on the toxicity of Russula persanguinea, it should be avoided.

The wet cap is slippery, the stem widens at base

The central depression in cap is a darker colour

White gills are crowded and all the same length

A wet, collapsed specimen is soggy all over, and pinkish

My sightings of Russula Persanguinea

[This will be updated with new sightings]

Brunkerville, NSW - at base of dead stump in wet mixed forest, Aug 2010, Jun 2011

#30 Phallus rubicundus

This pink, orange or red stinkhorn fungus is shaped like a spike or rod, or as the name indicates, is phallic in shape. It grows to about 150mm high and often pops up in lawns, gardens, potplants or mulch.

The matchbox gives an indication of size

of this collapsed Phallus rubicundus

An orange specimen of Phallus rubicundus

This stinkhorn fungus can be distinguished from Mutinus elegans by having separate head holding the brown spore-bearing matter.

As with all stinkhorn fungi, Phallus rubicundus starts out as a gelatinous egg-like structure from which the fruiting body emerges. The fragile hollow stem is perforated, and if sliced horizontally, will be roughly circular. Somewhat sponge-like in texture, it is soft to the touch and will break easily. More information at Mushroom Expert.

The sponge-like texture

The slimy spore-bearing head is separate from the body -

this is an important identifying feature


The interior is hollow and roughly circular.
Notice the stinkhorn "egg" and thin strands of hyphae


The spore-bearing cap has dislodged and slipped down


My sightings of Phallus rubicundus

[This will be updated with new sightings]

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens - Heatherbrae - in mulched gardens, May.

Beresfield Crematorium - in mulched gardens and leaf litter, Dec.

Collapsed and decaying Phallus rubicundus