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Lactarius deceptivus [ Basidiomycetes > Russulales > Russulaceae > Lactarius . . . ] by Michael Kuo In northern Michigan, Lactarius deceptivus is one of the most prolific late-summer mushrooms. It can reach astounding sizes, and often fruits in great numbers. Initially white, it is soon off-white with light brownish discolorations, and distinctively roughened or even scaly. Other distinguishing macrofeatures include the gills, which are close or almost distant, but not crowded like the gills in Lactarius piperatus. The gills are white, soon beginning to discolor, and eventually pale tan. The cap margin is inrolled at first, and is very softly leathery, like kid leather. In age the margin is typically still folded under just a little bit, and still soft. However, the cap and stem are not finely velvety overall, as they are in Lactarius subvellereus. Lactarius deceptivus has a white spore print and a very acrid taste. Its milk--the presence of which distinguishes it quickly from superficially similar Russula species like Russula brevipes, which frequently grows alongside it--is white, and stains the gills brownish. Field guides list Lactarius deceptivus as inedible or even "suspect." I have eaten it with no ill effects, and found it quite good. However, I boiled pieces of it five or six times, throwing out the water each time, and packed it in salt water, leaving it in the refrigerator for months. This is a method used often in Scandinavia, where many acrid and peppery milky caps are used in cold mushroom "salads" after being prepared this way. The result is a pleasantly spicy (and surprisingly still-firm) mushroom morsel. Though Scandinavian mushroomers freely eat any Lactarius or Russula species using this method, I do not advise eating any milky caps or russulas without being completely sure you have identified the mushroom to species. Please also see my comments on Lactarius piperatus. Description: Ecology: Mycorrhizal with conifers and hardwoods (epsecially oaks); growing scattered or densely gregariously; summer and fall; widely distributed east of the Rocky Mountains; common. Lactarius deceptivus occurs in Costa Rica; apparently it has "made its way into the Neotropics along with its mycorrhizal partner, Quercus" (Halling; see link below). Cap: 8-16 (30!) cm; at first convex with a central depression; becoming flat, with a shallow central depression, vase-shaped at maturity; at first smooth, but soon roughening, becoming torn into patches or scales; dry; the margin soft and cottony, inrolled at first--eventually even or slightly inrolled, still soft; white at first, soon discoloring tan and brownish. Gills: Attached to the stem or running down it; close or nearly distant; a few forking; whitish or yellowish becoming cream colored and finally dingy tan; usually staining and discoloring brownish. Stem: 4-9 cm long; 1-3.5 cm thick; whitish, discoloring brownish or tan; hard; dry; smooth or sometimes developing scales; more or less equal, or tapering to base. Flesh: Firm in cap; white. Milk: White, unchanging; sometimes staining brownish. Odor and Taste: Odor mild or pungent at maturity; taste strongly acrid. Spore Print: White to buff. Chemical Reactions: Cap surface reddish with KOH. Microscopic Features: Spores 9-12 (13) x 7.5-9 µ; broadly elliptical; with a prominent apiculus; without connecting lines between the spines; ornamentation with prominences 0.5-1.0 (1.5) µ high. REFERENCES: Peck, 1885. (Saccardo, 1887; Coker, 1918; Kauffman, 1918; Hesler & Smith, 1979; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1979; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Roody, 2003; McNeil, 2006; Miller & Miller, 2006; Kuo, 2007.) Herb. Kuo 09029508, 09030204. According to Hesler & Smith (1979), spore sizes are smaller than what is described above in some varieties. Lactarius tomentoso-marginatus is a similar mushroom with gills that become pinkish and are discolored pale cinnamon by the milk. Further Online Information: Lactarius deceptivus in Hesler & Smith (1979) |
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Cite this page as: Kuo, M. (2003, January). Lactarius deceptivus. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/lactarius_deceptivus.html |