104 THE AGARICACEAE OF MICHIGAN 



Gregarious-subcaespitose. On the ground in moist mossy woods 

 in coniferous regions, under hemlock, balsam-fir, spruce, cedar, 

 birch, etc. Isle Royale, Huron Mountains, Marquette, Munising, 

 Houghton, Bay View. Juiy-September. Frequent locally. 



The most desirable perhaps of all the Lactarii for the table, but 

 not very. common in southern Michigan at least. Its orange milk 

 and the beautiful zones of the cap have frequently attracted the 

 artist, and it has often been illustrated. Its range with us seems 

 to be mostly northward. This statement is based on seven years of 

 collecting in southern Michigan, but does not exclude the possibil- 

 ity of the appearance of L. deliciosus when least expected and per- 

 haps in quantity. Such sporadic fruiting is not infrequent in other 

 mushrooms after they seem to be absent from a region. Peck says 

 it occurs in all kinds of woods, but so far it has been found in quan- 

 tity only in the northern part of the state. Michael says that be- 

 cause of its strong aromatic taste it is not so desirable as food 

 when served alone but as an addition to other dishes it is excellent. 



78. Lactarius indigo Schw. (Edible) 



Syn. Fung. Carol. Super.. 1818. 

 (Fries, Epicrisis, 1838). 



Illustrations: Atkinson, Mushrooms, PI. 35, Fig. 3, 1900. 

 Mellvaine, Thousand Amer. Fungi, PI. 41, Fig. 2. 



PILEUS 5-12 cm. broad, convex-subumbilicate, then expanded- 

 depressed to infimdibulifomi, indigo-blue or paler, fading when dry, 

 with a silvery-gray lustre, zonate, glabrous. FLESH blue, green- 

 ish in age. GILLS adnate-decurrent, close, rather broad, indigo- 

 blue or paler, at length pale greenish. STEM 2-5 cm. long, 1-2 cm. 

 thick,. equal or tapering downward, glabrous, even, stuffed then 

 hollow, indigo-blue, often paler and spotted. SPORES "globose to 

 broadly elliptical, echinulate, 7 micr., yellowish." MILK dark blue, 

 mild. Edible. 



Gregarious. On the ground in oak and maple woods, and sandy 

 pine forests. Ann Arbor, Huron Mountains. Evidently through- 

 out the state. August. Rather rare. 



No one can mistake this mushroom as it has no double. It occurs 

 sparingly, but is widely distributed. Schweinitz should be given 

 full credit for naming this striking plant. It seems to be exclusively 

 North American. 



