Macrofungi of Arasbaran (4. Family Russulaceae)

Abstract

The Family<em> Russulaceae</em> comprises of some important agaricoid and gasteroid taxa of <em>Agaricomycetes</em>. Two genera, <em>Lactarius</em> and <em>Russula</em> are distinctive basidiomycetes that possesses heteromerous tissue composed of sphaerocyte cells and amyloid ornamentation on their basidiospores. Some of the important ectomycorrhizal, edible, poisonous and medicinal species have been rested in genera <em>Lactarius</em> and <em>Russula</em>. In this paper, seven species of the fungi belonging to genera <em>Lactarius</em> and <em>Russula</em> (<em>Russulales</em>, <em>Russulaceae</em>), collected from Arasbaran forests, were identified. Three species, <em>L. serifluus</em>, <em>R. lilacea</em> and<em> R. sororia </em>are reported for the first time for Iranian mycoflora<em>. </em>