678 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The stem is short and cyUndric or nearly so, glabrous, hollow and 

 colored like the cap. It is sometimes spotted or stained with bluish 

 green when old, but I have not seen it with such permanent depressed 

 colored spots as often adorn the stems of the allied species, Z. deliciosus, 

 L. subpurpureus and L. Indigo. The cap is 2 to 3 in. broad ; the stem- 

 I to 1.5 in. long, 4 to 6 lines thick. It grows in light sandy soil under 

 or near pine trees and occurs from July to September. Its edible qualities 

 are similar to those of the delicious Lactarius. 



Lactarius distans Pk. 



DlSTANT-GILLED LaCTARIUS 



Plate 59 fig. 7 to 1 1 



Pileus firm, broadly convex or nearly plane, umbilicate or slightly 

 depressed in the center, with a minute velvety pruinosity, yellowish 

 tawny or brownish orange; lamellae rather broad, distant, adnate or 

 slightly decurrent, white or creamy yellow, the interspaces venose, milk 

 white, mild; stem short, equal or tapering downward, solid, pruinose, 

 colored like the pileus; spores subglobose, .00035 ^^ .00045 '"• broad. 



The distant-gilled Lactarius is similar to the orange Lactarius in color, 

 but in other respects it is quite distinct. The short stem, widely separated 

 gills and pruinose surface of the cap are distinctive features. The cap is 

 broadly convex and often has a small central depression or umbilicus. 

 In some cases it becomes nearly plane or even slightly funnel shape by 

 the spreading or elevation of the margin. The surface, specially in 

 young and in well developed specimens, has a soft pruinose or almost 

 velvety appearance to the naked eye, and when viewed through a mag- 

 nifying glass it is seen to be covered with minute persistent granules. 

 The surface is sometimes wrinkled and frequently it cracks in such a 

 way as to form small angular or irregular areas. The color is a peculiar 

 one, varying somewhat in shade, but with tawny hues prevailing. It 

 has been described as yellowish tawny and brownish orange. The flesh 

 is white or whitish and has a mild taste. 



The gills are wide apart, somewhat arched in specimens having a con- 

 vex cap and slightly decurrent in those with fully expanded or centrally 

 depressed caps. Their color is white or creamy yellow and in old and 

 dried specimens they have a white pruinosity as if frosted by the spores. 

 The milk is white and mild. 



The stem is short, rarely more than an inch long, and is cylindric or 

 tapering downward. It is solid and colored and clothed like the cap. 



