440 



The; Peppery Lactarius (Edibee) 

 Lactarius piperatus Fries 



The genus name Lactarius is derived from the word lac meaning 

 milk, and the species name piperatus is derived from the word piper 

 meaning pepper. The name is very appropriate for this mushroom, for 

 whenever any portion of the cap, especially the gills, is wounded, there 

 exudes from the wound an abundance of milky juice which is very 

 peppery to the taste. 



Lactarius piperatus is usually the commonest species of the genus. 

 It occurs on the ground in woods from July to October, and is a 

 readily distinguished species. 



The cap is at first convex, then expanded and somewhat depressed 

 in the middle, and when fully mature it may be funnel-shaped. It is 

 entirely white, smooth, even on the margin, and ciuite regular in shape. 

 The cap is usually from 5 to 15 cm. (2 to 6 inches) broad. 



The gills are very narrow and very much crowded. They are 

 white or cream color and are attached to the stem, either adnate or 

 decurrent. The gills are unequal in length and some of them are 

 forked. The abundant white milk does not change color on exposure 

 to the air. The gills, however, are sometimes spotted with yellow. 

 The spores are white. 



The stem is solid, smooth, and white. It is cylindrical or somewhat 

 tapering downward, and from 2.5 to 5 cm. (i to 2 inches) long. 

 There is no ring and no volva. 



Many people are afraid of this species because of its peppery taste. 

 This c{uality entirely disappears with cooking, however, and the plant 

 is perfectly harmless although it is not a general favorite with mush- 

 room eaters. The following interesting paragraphs are ciuoted from 

 Mcllvaine : 



"L. piperatus is a readily distinguished species. It is very com- 

 mon. In 1 88 1, after an extensive forest fire in the West Virginia 

 forests, I saw miles of the blackened district made white by a growth 

 of this fungus. It was the phenomenal growth which first attracted 

 my attention to toadstools. I collected it then in quantity and used it, 

 with good results, as a fertilizer on impoverished ground. 



"It has been eaten for many years in most countries, yet a few 

 writers continue to warn against it. It is the representative fungus 

 of its class — meaty, coarse, fair flavor. It is edible and is good food 

 when one is hungrv and cannot get better. It is best used as an ab- 

 sorbent of gravies." 



Collected in Jackson and Union counties. 



