Assessment Notes

Justification

Russula aeruginea is a widespread edible ectomycorrhizal fungus in Eurasia and North America, and there is no evidence of decline. It can be locally abundant where suitable habitat exists. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern (LC).

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Geographic range

It is common in temperate and boreal Europe, Asia and also widely distributed in North America. The area of occupancy (AOO) of this species is much larger than 2,000 km², and its extent of occurrence (EOO) is much larger than 20,000 km².

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Population and Trends

The population size is likely to be very large since this is such a widespread species, and more or less stable as there is no indication of any decline.

Population Trend: stable

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Habitat and Ecology

Russula aeruginea is an ectomycorrhizal mushroom associating with birch (Betula spp.). It often occurs in coniferous forests, but then almost always under birch. It is common on acidic, sandy or peaty soils, occasional on more rich soil where it possibly may associate with conifers.

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Threats

There are no major threats to this species.

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Use and Trade

Russula aeruginea is an appreciated wild mushroom in northern countries.

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Source and Citation

Dahlberg, A. 2019. Russula aeruginea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T122090725A223013899. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T122090725A223013899.en .Accessed on 3 February 2024

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• Country occurrence