Introduction
Among the museum’s Nature Art Collection are 78 watercolours of mushrooms by Beatrice Williamson (1916 – 2003), who studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design and later worked in Ottawa. Her first book, "Reflections on the Fungaloids", was published when she was 86.
This story contains an except from the chapter titled "The Revival of a Gourmet Cuisine in Europe". Discover different kinds of Russula with us!
Russula lutea by Williamson, Beatrice L.Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature
Russula lutea
Should one ask the unlikely question, "What did the banquets of the ancient Romans have in common with the meagre meals of the charcoal burners in the forests of the Dark Ages?"...
...the answer would be, "Grilled mushrooms!"
Russula lutea, as slick and polished as R. brevipes is grungy.
Russula brevipes by Williamson, Beatrice L.Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature
Russula brevipes
A squatty white Russula, green-gilled;
A mediocre edible, its flavour much enhanced by an infestation of Hypomyces lactifluorum transforming it into the choice "Lobster Mushroom".
Russula aeruginea by Williamson, Beatrice L.Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature
Russula aeruginea
This emeraldine Russula, found by the great Waterfall at Coulonge, is probably Russula aeruginea.
Its deep green cap is over glazed with a hint of verdigris and from within shines a copper glow. As in all Russulas, its near white stems are chalk-like, crisp and brittle.
Russula Mary Peck (Purple) by Williamson, Beatrice L.Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature
Russula Mary Peck
These amethystine Russulas range in colour from pinks, reds, and purples under conifers, to olive or violet brown under deciduous trees, to slate violet in shady places.
It makes identification in the field, by colour alone, guesswork even for the experts.
Hygrocybe puniceus by Williamson, Beatrice L.Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature
Hygrocybe puniceus, Cranberry Waxy Cap
Brilliant, polished clusters which further dramatize themselves by flamboyant Laocoön-like postures and gestures.
Low-tech Agarica, their thick waxy gills are spaced relatively far apart, a contrast to the gill sophistication opposite.
Panellus serotinus by Williamson, Beatrice L.Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature
Panellus serotinus, The Green Oyster
Stalkless, often overlapping, these exquisite bronzy-green shells decorate hardwood logs late in the fall, often after first frost.
Their gills are as fine, delicate, and as tightly ranged as those of Hygrocybe puniceus are coarse and distant.
Russula Mary Peck (Rose) by Williamson, Beatrice L.Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature
Browsing through our Google Arts & Culture collection, you will find more images of mushrooms by Betty L. Williamson. They include edible and poisonous, familiar and bizarre species, all depicted with equal amazement and artistry.
