Russula griseopurpurata: New Mushroom Species Found in Meghalaya

Russula griseopurpurata is a newly described mushroom species from India and belongs to the genus Russula, which includes about 2,000 species worldwide. The species was published in the scientific journal Phytotaxa on 5 August 2026 by researchers from Gauhati University.

Taxonomy and Classification

Russula griseopurpurata has been identified as a novel taxon within Russula subsect. Cyanoxanthinae. The genus Russula is a large group of agaric fungi, and many species in this genus are known for their brittle flesh and coloured caps.

Collection Site and Type Specimen

The holotype specimen was collected on 22 July 2022 by Dr. Niranjan Roy at Jirang in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya. The specimen was found beneath a sal tree, Shorea robusta, at an elevation of 320 metres.

Scientific Identification and Morphology

The study examined three specimens of the species, including two from West Bengal and one from Meghalaya. The Meghalaya specimen was deposited under collection number GUBH 20331 and sequence PQ432811, and the identification used ITS DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

The mushroom has a greyish-purple cap that cracks with age and gills that show forkings near the stalk. These features were used with molecular data to separate it from related species.

Important Facts for Exams

• The journal Phytotaxa publishes papers on plant and fungal taxonomy.
• The holotype is the single specimen used as the name-bearing reference for a new species.
• ITS stands for Internal Transcribed Spacer, a standard DNA marker used in fungal identification.
• Shorea robusta is commonly known as sal and is a major tree species of the Indian subcontinent.

Edibility and Fungal Diversity

Some species of Russula are edible, but the safety of Russula griseopurpurata for human consumption has not been established. Fungal taxonomy in India uses field characters, microscopic traits, and DNA-based methods for species description.