Russula virescens is a fungus that produces a mushroom commonly known as the green-cracking Russula. It has a distinctive pale green cap up to 15 cm (6 in) wide, with a surface covered with angular patches in a darker green. It has white gills and a firm white stalk up to 8 cm (3 in) tall and 4 cm (1.6 in) thick. With a taste that is variously described as mild, nutty, fruity, or sweet, it is regarded as one of the best edible mushrooms of the genus Russula. Popular in Spain and China, it can be grilled, fried, sautéed, or eaten raw. The species fruits singly or scattered on the ground in both deciduous and mixed forests, and is symbiotic with roots of broadleaf trees such as oak, European beech, aspen, and some Asian lowland rainforest trees of the family Dipterocarpaceae. First described in 1774 by Jacob Christian Schaeffer, the species is native to Asia, North Africa, Europe, Central America, and possibly North America. The mushroom contains a unique laccase enzyme that can break down various dyes in laboratory and textile wastewater.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russula_virescens

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1536:

The army of Inca Emperor Manco Inca Yupanqui began a 10-month siege of Cuzco against a garrison of Spanish conquistadors and Indian auxiliaries led by Hernando Pizarro. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Cuzco

1782:

Construction began on the Grand Palace of Bangkok, the official residence of the King of Thailand. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Palace

1941:

American entertainer Bob Hope performed the first of his many shows for the United Service Organizations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hope

1991:

Time magazine published "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power", an article highly critical of the Scientology organization, leading to years of legal conflict that ended when the Church of Scientology's petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States in the case was denied in 2001. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thriving_Cult_of_Greed_and_Power

2002:

Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn was assassinated by animal rights and environmental activist Volkert van der Graaf in Hilversum, marking the first political murder on Dutch soil since 1672. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Pim_Fortuyn

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

supererogation: 1. An act of doing more than is required. 2. (philosophy) An action that is neither morally forbidden or required, but has moral value. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/supererogation

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

All shall be well, I'm telling you, let the winter come and go All shall be well again, I know.   --Sydney Carter https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sydney_Carter