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Lactarius
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Fungi of the genus Lactarius, sometimes called milk-caps, are characterized by the fact that they exude a milky fluid ('latex') if cut or damaged. Like the genus Russula, with which they are grouped in the family Russulaceae, their flesh has a distinctive brittle consistency.
Often the gills are decurrent (starting to run down the stem) and the cap is depressed or even funnel-shaped when older.
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Encyclopedia
Fungi of the genus Lactarius, sometimes called milk-caps, are characterized by the fact that they exude a milky fluid ('latex') if cut or damaged. Like the genus Russula, with which they are grouped in the family Russulaceae, their flesh has a distinctive brittle consistency.
Often the gills are decurrent (starting to run down the stem) and the cap is depressed or even funnel-shaped when older. The stem and cap sometimes show 'strobicules' (or 'strobiculi'), which are flat-based shallow oval pits.
To identify to which of the roughly 400 Lactarius species a given specimen belongs, it is generally important to note whether the cap is bald/greasy or velvety or hairy/shaggy at the rim, particularly in young individuals. Also the initial colour of the milk (white, cream, orange, violet, ...) and the final colour on drying are determining characteristics.
The genus was described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1797. Lactarius is derived from the Latin lac 'milk'.
A selection of well-known European species
Section Deliciosi
This group of mushrooms has orange or red milk and carrot-orange coloration, in many cases becoming flecked with green or blue-green with age. They are all generally considered to be edible and tasty, the appetizingly named Lactarius deliciosus reputedly being much better than the others. They grow in coniferous woods.
L. deliciosus is the only one with an English name: 'saffron milk-cap'. It is found under pine or spruce. L. deterrimus was formerly considered to be a variety of L. deliciosus and is distinguished by the milk turning wine-red on drying - but only after up to 30 minutes. L. salmonicolor is associated with spruce and remains a pure orange, unlike the other two which discolour green.
Lactarius chrysorrheus
The milk of this mushroom emerges white but immediately changes to a deep yellow colour. The top of the cap is a pinkish red with concentric zoning on a background showing yellow tints. It is common under broad-leaved trees, especially oak. There are conflicting reports as to its edibility.
Lactarius decipiens
This flesh-coloured Lactarius is closely related to L. chrysorrheus, and again the milk is initially white and turns yellow, but only after several seconds. To allow the milk to contact the air this is best tested on a paper tissue (a cloth handkerchief is liable to be permanently stained).
Lactarius quietus
L. quietus, which is commonly found under oak trees, is often thought to be a non-descript mushroom, and in fact that is the significance of its Latin epithet quietus. It has a distinctive smell said to be of bedbugs or of wet laundry. The milk goes a little cream but does not change further.
External links
- by L. R. Hesler and Alexander H. Smith, 1979. (Full text of monograph.)
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See also
- Russulaceae - Provides a list of some lactarius species and edibility
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