The Genus Lactarius

Saturday, 5 December 2015

At the end of this year mushrooming season I would like to comment on the genus Lactarius.
The few species are fairly common in Southern Ontario. They show in Summer and Fall, but the most useful are flashes found in late September and October. They are almost 100% free of bug infestation.The mushrooms in this genus are relatively easy to recognize, and generally they are very similar to Genus Russula. The main attributes are:

• terrestrial (grow on the ground - never on wood)


• ring is not present


• the stem is of uniform diameter with no bulb at  the bottom, frequently hollow in mature specimen


• the cap colors are usually vivid and many are zonated (concentric zones)


• when damaged, gills and body exude latex ("milk") - some copiously


• the gills are attached to the stem or running down


• the cap margin is usually in-rolled when young, but cap gets funnel shaped in maturity


• the flash of the mushroom is relatively brittle

During summer months I usually find Lactifluus volemus (formerly known as Lactarius volemus) and Lactifluus hygrophoroides (formerly known as Lactarius hygrophoides). Both are part of the "orange milky" group. Both have a velvety feel and superficially look very similar. Volemus comes in small groups, frequently single mushroom, while hygrophoides creates flushes. I find them exclusively in deciduous woods, under various hardwood trees. They both produce copious amounts of "milk", but volemus also have fishy smell and leaves stains on everything (use gloves!). Both are good edibles, in my opinion, although in some sources volemus has pretty bad reputation as "mediocre" and outright bad.

 

Lactarius hygrophoides has wide spread gills with somewhat yellow tinge. Stem is usually shorter and they hide under leaf debris.

 

Lactarius volemus has very dense gills and longer stem.

Very rarely I find one more member of the orange milky group - Lactifluus corrugis  (formerly known as Lactarius corrugis). Darker in general, the cap is roughly pitted - hence the name. I find this one not very good edible. The best for me so far is dried and used in soup.

Late in august two more Lactarius species start to show, sometime in great flushes - Lactarius indigo and Lactarius deliciosus.  They are good and versatile edibles, in my opinion similar in taste and quality. Indigo is, well, indigo colored, although mature specimens tend to obtain silver-blue color on the top. Lactarius deliciousus exudes orange milk that quickly turns green, staining mushroom green. The stem usually has mottled look and turns hollow in mature specimens. Lactarius deliciousus is excellent baked, cooked in stews, dried, pickled, fermented etc. I find both of this species under conifers. Indigo seems to prefer pine, while deliciousus is less picky.

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