BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)

Sarneri, M., 1998

Monografia Illustrata del genere Russula in Europa

A beautifully produced and fairly comprehensive two volume account of European Russula. The Mediterranean species are well covered, but inevitably, the Scandinavian elements are less complete. In any case, the genus is still a work in progress, with more than 30 new taxa recently published for France in a single paper!

Introductory sections cover the macro- and microscopic characters, ecology, systematics and classification. The key to subgenera, sections and subsections (p133) precedes the survey of the taxa. Each section begins with a key, facing a set of small photographs of most of the species. This is followed by the species accounts with one or more good half page colour photographs and large clear line drawings of microscopy (pileocystidial elements and spores).

The text is in Italian, but there are English translations of the preface and the keys, but much of it can be worked out by the non-Italian speaker, especially if you've picked up a bit of Latin terminology.

Publisher A.M.B. Fondazione Centro Studi Micologici
Volume Tomo Primo & Secondo
Pages 1568
Edition Vol 1: 1998, Vol 2: 2005
Comments and Corrigenda Volume 2 includes a loose page of corrections which comprise



the omitted first half of the description for Russula rhodella. (p1204)
the photographs on pp127, 1259 should be titled Russula olivana not cessans.


Coverage Covers the whole of Europe: the Mediterranean mycota are well covered, but the Scandinavian species are less complete.
Illustrations Beautiful colour photographs of fruitbodies, line drawings of microscopy.
Identify Under a Compound Microscope.
Specimen Prep. Fresh or dried specimens.

Malcolm Storey

Taxonomic Scope

Russula Pers., 1796 (brittlegill toadstools, russulas) Identification Current

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