124 STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



stem 1-2 cm. in thickness. It is easily recognized by its orange 

 color and the concentric zones of light and dark orange around on the 

 pileus, and by the orange milk which is exuded where wounded. 



The pileus is first convex, then slightly depressed in the center, 

 becoming more expanded, and finally more or less funnel-shaped by 

 the elevation of the margin. It is usually more or less orange in 

 color or mottled with varying shades, and with concentric bands of a 

 deeper color. The gills are yellowish orange often with darker spots. 

 The stem is of the same color as the pileus but paler, sometimes with 

 darker spots. The flesh of the plant is white, shaded with orange. 

 In old plants the color fades out somewhat and becomes unevenly 

 tinged with green, and bruised places become green. Peck states 

 that when fresh the plant often has a slight acrid taste. 



Being a widely distributed and not uncommon plant, and one so 

 readily recognized, it has long been known in the old world as well 

 as here. All writers on these subjects concur in recommending it 

 for food, some pronouncing it excellent, some the most delicious 

 known. Its name suggests the estimation in which it was held 

 when christened. 



Lactarius chelidonium Pk. Edible. This pretty little Lactarius was 

 described by Peck in the 24th Report, N. Y. State Mus., p. 74. It 

 is closely allied to Lactarius deliciosus, from which it is said to differ 

 in its " more narrow lamella, differently colored milk, smaller 

 spores." The plant is about 5 cm. high, the cap about 5 cm. broad, 

 and the stem 1-1.5 cm. in thickness. 



The pileus is fleshy, firm, convex and depressed in the center, 

 smooth, slightly viscid when moist, ** of a grayish green color with 

 blue and yellow tints, and a few narrow zones on the margin." The 

 gills are crowded, narrow, some of them forked at the base, and 

 sometimes joining to form reticulations. The spores are yellowish. 

 The short stem is nearly equal, smooth, hollow, and the same color 

 as the pileus. 



The taste is mild, the milk not abundant, and of a yellowish color, 

 *' resembling the juice of Celandine or the liquid secreted from the 

 mouth of grasshoppers." Wounds on the plant are first of the color 

 of the milk, changing on exposure to blue, and finally to green. The 

 plant occurs during late summer and in the autumn in woods. Peck 

 reported it first from Saratoga, N. Y. It has been found elsewhere 

 in the State, and it has probably quite a wide distribution. I found 

 it during September, 1899, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of N. C. 

 Figure i, plate 39, is from some of the water color drawings made by 

 Mr. Franklin R. Rathbun. 



