Lactarius paradoxus

Lactarius paradoxus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Russulales
Family: Russulaceae
Genus: Lactarius
Species:
L. paradoxus
Binomial name
Lactarius paradoxus
Beardslee & Burl. (1940)

Lactarius paradoxus is a North American member of the large milk-cap genus, Lactarius, in the order Russulales. It was first described in 1940.[1]

Description

The cap has a blue-green to gray color.[2] When damaged, it bleeds dark red latex.[3] The spore print is light yellowish.[3]

Similar species

Lactarius indigo looks similar, but with a blue latex.[2] Lactarius rubrilacteus has a reddish latex and does not appear blue.[2] Additionally, L. chelidonium and L. subpurpureus are similar.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Fruiting from early fall to late winter, the species is found in the southern and eastern United States.[2] It appears in grass and under pines.[3] It is mycorrhizal with pine and oak.[citation needed]

Edibility

The species is edible and mild, but bitter if too old.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Beardslee HC, Burlingham GS. (1940). "Interesting species of Lactariae from Florida". Mycologia. 32 (5): 575–86. doi:10.2307/3754577. JSTOR 3754577.
  2. ^ a b c d e Miller Jr., Orson K.; Miller, Hope H. (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, CN: FalconGuide. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-7627-3109-1.
  3. ^ a b c d Audubon (2023). Mushrooms of North America. Knopf. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-593-31998-7.