Critical review of Russula species (Agaricomycetes) known from Tatra National Park (Poland and Slovakia)

All available published data on the occurrence of Russula species in Tatra National Park are summarized. Excluding the doubtful data, which are discussed herein, 66 species are recognized in Tatra National Park. Within each of the three main geomorphological units of the range, 42 species were recorded in the West Tatras, 18 in the High Tatras, and 16 in the Belanske Tatry Mts; additionally, 35 species were found in areas outside the Tatra Mts but within the National Park borders. Montane forests are the richest in Russula species (58); 13 species were found in the subalpine and 8 in the alpine belt. The number of reported species is highest in the Polish part of the West Tatra Mts; almost no data are available from the Slovak High Tatras. The smallest unit, the Belanske Tatry Mts, is the Tatra region best studied for alpine species. In comparison to other regions in Poland and Slovakia, Tatra National Park seems to be relatively well investigated, but in view of the richness of habitats in the Tatra Mts, we believe the actual diversity of Russula species in the region is higher than presently known.