Charcoal Burner Fungi

[Shewie]

I`ve come across the Charcoal Burner or Russula cyanoxantha in one of my books and wondered if anyone knows how it got its` name. Does it have any practical firelighting uses or does the name just come from its` smokey blue cap colouring. The guide describes them as common so if they`re any good I might harvest some next year, I expect I`ve probably missed them now.

Done a quick search but nobody has discussed this point.


Rich

 

[nickg]

They grow round my area a lot - tase ok if you can get to them before the critters - or the kids get to them.
I always assumed they were common fare for the charcoal burners & bodgers that lived in the woods & would harvest them as they found them but I have no certain knowledge.

Cheers
Nick

 

[Blackshuck]

Can you show us a picture of it? I don't know if they are very common around our way.

David

 

[xylaria]

got piccy http://mycorance.free.fr/valchamp/champi27.htm
I thought the name was due the colour being variable like burnished metal. I don't think it will have any firecraft properties.

 

[Toadflax]

It doesn't get us a lot further forward, but my edibles book (Collins Need to Know Mushroom Hunting by Patrick Harding) has this to say: "[Russula cyanoxantha] known as the Peacock Russule or Rainbow Russule in Victorian times, but now usually referred to as the Charcoal Burner, a translation of Charbonnier, the French name for the species."

[EDIT]Now that I'm searching for Charbonnier, I have found this: "CHARBONNIER (Russula cyanoxantha): The cap appears dusted with charcoal."


Geoff

 

[nickg]

It doesn't get us a lot further forward, but my edibles book (Collins Need to Know Mushroom Hunting by Patrick Harding) has this to say: "[Russula cyanoxantha] known as the Peacock Russule or Rainbow Russule in Victorian times, but now usually referred to as the Charcoal Burner, a translation of Charbonnier, the French name for the species."

[EDIT]Now that I'm searching for Charbonnier, I have found this: "CHARBONNIER (Russula cyanoxantha): The cap appears dusted with charcoal."


Geoff

That sounds very plausable. not sure Id go along with the charcoal dusting part though

Cheers
Nick