Lilac Brittlegill
Russula lilacea
The Lilac Brittlegill is a distinctive mushroom species characterized by its pale lilac to violet-purple cap and white to cream-colored gills that become brittle with age. This mycorrhizal fungus forms essential symbiotic relationships with tree roots, facilitating nutrient exchange and supporting forest ecosystem health through its underground fungal networks.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Russulales
Family
Russulaceae
Genus
Russula
Lilac Brittlegill belongs to the family Russulaceae, order Russulales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
The Lilac Brittlegill is a distinctive mushroom species characterized by its pale lilac to violet-purple cap and white to cream-colored gills that become brittle with age. This mycorrhizal fungus forms essential symbiotic relationships with tree roots, facilitating nutrient exchange and supporting forest ecosystem health through its underground fungal networks.
The Lilac Brittlegill (Russula lilacea) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized forest ecosystems. As a mycorrhizal fungus dependent on specific host trees, it faces severe threats from deforestation, forest fragmentation, and changes in forest composition that disrupt the delicate symbiotic relationships essential for its survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Lilac Brittlegill occurs in mature deciduous and mixed forests, particularly in association with oak, beech, and birch trees where it forms mycorrhizal partnerships. The species requires well-drained, slightly acidic soils with rich organic matter and stable forest floor conditions.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Lilac Brittlegill (Russula lilacea) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized forest ecosystems. As a mycorrhizal fungus dependent on specific host trees, it faces severe threats from deforestation, forest fragmentation, and changes in forest composition that disrupt the delicate symbiotic relationships essential for its survival.
Disruption of mycorrhizal relationships with host trees
Forest fragmentation
Habitat loss and deforestation
Air pollution and acid rain
Climate change affecting forest composition
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Lilac Brittlegill (Russula lilacea). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/lilac-brittlegill