FIELD BOOK OF COMMON GILLED MUSHROOMS 



Spores yellowish; globular; .0003 to .0004 inch in diameter. 



The delicious lactarius is well marked by its peculiar 

 colors and is easily distinguished from all other species of 

 Lactarius by its orange-colored juice. The mottled zones 

 upon the cap are less distinct in old plants, and in them the 

 ground-color also fades and becomes tinged with greenish 

 hues. Such plants should not be used as food. There is 

 often a slightly acrid taste to the flesh and milk when the 

 plant is fresh and raw. 



The milk or juice pervades the whole plant. Wounds and 

 bruises slowly assume a dull greenish hue. 



The stem is usually hollow in mature plants. This species 

 is especially found on pine woods and mossy swamps, though 

 not by any means limited to these. It may sometimes be found 

 in swamps when dry weather prevents its growth elsewhere. 



Lactarius lignyotus; sooty lactarius. Plate XI, Species 74. 



On ground in shaded, mossy or damp places in woods and 

 swamps; most often in hilly or mountainous places; July to 

 September; edible. 



Cap convex, plane or slightly depressed at the center; dry; 

 with or without a small protuberance (umbo) at the center ; 

 often with wrinkles radiating from the center; velvety (pruin- 

 ose); even or lobed at the edge; sooty-brown; flesh white; 

 exuding scanty white milk when bruised or cut; taste mild 

 or slightly acrid; i to 4 inches in diameter. 



Gills attached to the stem (adnate) or extending slightly 

 down the stem; white or creamy yellow, becoming reddish 

 where they are wounded. 



Stem cylindric or tapering upward; stuffed; colored like 

 the cap ; 2 to 4 inches long, Ve to Vs iiich thick and sometimes 

 thicker; colored like the cap. 



Spores globular with small spines (echinulate) ; white; 

 8 to 10 microns in diameter. 



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