The microscopic structure of herbarium material of alpine and arctic species of Russula sect. Xerampelinae from Europe and Greenland was studied. Based on our observations two taxa with prevailingly red pilei are accepted from the area: R. subrubens and R. pascua. Other related species occurring in arctic areas are R. cicatricata with a coppery coloured pileus and R. clavipes with a prevailingly greenish olivaceous pileus. As a consequence of the study of type material, R. chamiteae var. chamiteae and R. chamiteae var. microsperma are synonymized with R. subrubens. No European collections could be referred to R. oreina, and accordingly we suggest that this species is absent from Europe.