The Genus Russula from Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya: A Pictorial Guide

Mycorrhizal mushrooms are very important for the survival of forest trees. Species of the genus Russula are the dominant ectomycorrhizal wild mushrooms in the state of Uttarakhand, exhibiting a spectacular array of colours on the forest floor. They remain one of the most confusing groups of macrofungi, which are very difficult to identify. This pictorial manual encompasses 105 Russula species that are found in Uttarakhand. Out of 105 species, 58 are presented with detailed morphology, illustrations, and distributional maps. In addition, previously reported 47 species from this state that were not encountered by the authors during present explorations are also given with short descriptions. For easy segregation of all these species, morphology-based keys are also supplemented for the convenience of students, researchers, foresters and policymakers.