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Lactarius atroviridis [ Basidiomycetes > Russulales > Russulaceae > Lactarius . . . ] by Michael Kuo There is no mistaking this species. The spotted green surface of the cap and stem, the pale pinkish gills, and the creamy white milk make it one of the most distinctive mushrooms I've ever seen. Lactarius atroviridis is partial to oaks, and is found east of the Great Plains. I have no information on the edibility of this species. Several authors caution against it, but this may be because of its acrid taste. The times I have found it, however, the taste was quite mild. Still, I do not recommend experimenting. Description: Ecology: Mycorrhizal, primarily with oaks but sometimes reported under conifers; growing alone or gregariously; summer and fall; widely distributed east of the Mississippi River, with a range extending at least as far south as Costa Rica. Cap: 3-15 cm; convex becoming planoconvex with a central depression; dry, or sticky in wet weather; pock-marked and rugged, sometimes smoother over the disc; various shades of green, often with darker green spots arranged concentrically over the marginal half; the margin inrolled. Gills: Attached or beginning to run down the stem; close; pale pinkish; often bruising and staining greenish to brownish; frequently with green tints on the edges of mature gills; short-gills frequent. Stem: 2-8 cm long; 1-2.5 cm thick; equal or tapering to the base; slimy when fresh, but soon dry; with many pot-holes; colored and textured like the cap; becoming hollow with age. Flesh: Whitish to pale pinkish. Milk: Fairly copious; creamy white; sometimes becoming greenish on exposure to air. Odor and Taste: Odor not distinctive; taste acrid, according to the literature. My collections were quite mild. Chemical Reactions: Cap surface dark purple-magenta with KOH. Spore Print: Cream. Microscopic Features: Spores 7-9 x 5.5-6.5 µ; broadly elliptical; ornamentation with prominences 0.2-0.5 µ high; connecting lines amyloid, sometimes forming broken or partial reticula. REFERENCES: Peck, 1889. (Coker, 1918; Kauffman, 1918; Hesler & Smith, 1979; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1979; Weber & Smith, 1985; Phillips, 1991/2005.) Herb. Kuo 07240403, 07210706. Further Online Information: Lactarius atroviridis in Hesler & Smith (1979) |
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Cite this page as: Kuo, M. (2004, July). Lactarius atroviridis. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/lactarius_atroviridis.html |