COMMON NAME: None
FAMILY: Russulaceae
CAP: Up to 4-1/2 in. wide; orange and whitish, often in concentric zones especially toward the margin; convex to broadly convex, becoming flat with a depressed center; surface viscid, bald
FLESH: White to cream or with orange tints, not staining green; rather thin; odor not distinctive; taste not distinctive, or astringent and slightly disagreeable
GILLS: Yellowish orange to orange, staining orange then wine red; attached to subdecurrent; close to subdistant; medium broad; sometimes forked; edges even; no partial veil
LATEX: Orange on exposure, very slowly turning to wine red; scant; taste mild, becoming astringent
STEM: Up to 3 in. long; various shades of orange; equal or tapering toward the base; hollow in age; surface viscid when wet, bald, at times with shallow pits
SPORE PRINT: Pale yellowish
ECOLOGY: Mycorrhizal with conifers; single to scattered in moss or litter in high altitude, wet conifer, and mixed woods; summer and fall; occasional, and at times common in its preferred habitat
EDIBILITY: Edible
COMMENTS: This is an attractive species common to the boggy woods of Eastern Ontario and New England. It is likely a glacial relict species, which continues to survive on the higher mountains of the Appalachians. Lactarius deterrimus (p. 54) is similar, but its latex stains the tissues green.
Lactarius thyinos
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lactarius deterrimus Gröger
SYNONYM: Lactarius deliciosus var. deterrimus (Gröger) Hesler and A. H. Sm.
COMMON NAME: False Saffron Cap
FAMILY: Russulaceae
CAP: Up to 4 in. wide; orange at first, then greenish, infused with orange buff, at times yellowish or whitish, zonate at times; convex to broadly convex to nearly flat in age; becoming depressed in the center; surface viscid when wet, bald; margin turned under at first
FLESH: Stem: Up to 2-1/2 in. long; pale orange to whitish, staining reddish and then green; odor and taste not distinctive
GILLS: Orange with reddish-brown or green stains; attached to subdecurrent; subdistant; moderately broad; not forking; edges even; no partial veil
LATEX: Orangish red, unchanging on exposure; staining tissues reddish or green; scanty; mild tasting
STEM: Up to 2 in. long; orange, staining greenish where handled; stuffed becoming hollow; equal; surface smooth, bald
SPORE PRINT: Pale buff
ECOLOGY: Mycorrhizal with conifers, reported with spruce, hemlock, and white pine; scattered to gregarious in wet woods in moss and humus; late summer and fall; locally common
EDIBILITY: Edible; reported as mediocre by some and good by others
COMMENTS: This is a member of the Lactarius delicosus group. The mushroom described here is likely different than the species with the same name in Europe. DNA study is needed to sort out this complex. The similar Lactarius thyinos (p. 53) can be found at high elevations. It lacks green staining. See the comments under Lactarius chelidonium (p. 55) regarding the problems with field identification of this species and Lactarius deterrimus.
Lactarius deterrimus
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lactarius chelidonium Peck
SYNONYM: Lactarius chelidonioides A. H. Sm.
COMMON NAME: None
FAMILY: Russulaceae
CAP: Up to 3 in. wide; color extremely variable, pale greenish buff, orangish brown, grayish yellow, pinkish brown, or various combinations of these colors, sometimes green in wet weather; sometimes slightly zonate; convex, becoming broadly convex, and then flat with a depressed center, finally funnel shaped; surface bald, slightly viscid when wet; margin turned under at first
FLESH: Blue with orange tones, especially near the gills; odor not distinctive, or slightly fragrant; taste mild, or slightly peppery
GILLS: Dingy yellow, yellowish brown, greenish, or olive buff; attached to subdecurrent; narrow; close to crowded; developing orange or green stains that in wet weather can occasionally turn reddish purple; edges even; no partial veil
LATEX: Dingy yellowish to yellowish brown, staining gills greenish; very scant; taste mild
STEM: Up to 2 in. long; colors similar to the cap or bluish; equal or enlarged downward; rather tough; surface fairly smooth, bald
Spore Print: Pale buff to yellowish
ECOLOGY: Mycorrhizal with pine; often in plantations, where it fruits scattered to gregarious in the needle duff; late summer and fall; occasional to locally common
EDIBILITY: Edible of fair quality
COMMENTS: Recent DNA studies indicate that North American collections of this mushroom are a match for North American collections of what has been called Lactarius deterrimus (p. 54). This is a problem for field identification since the two varieties have different-colored latex and different-colored flesh. It is likely that a new name will be created, combining both species into one.
Lactarius chelidonium
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lactarius subpurpureus Peck
SYNONYMS: None
COMMON NAME: Wine Red Milk Mushroom
FAMILY: Russulaceae
CAP: Up to 4 in. wide; silvery pink or red blended with pinkish gray, at times spotted greenish; convex with a central depression; margin incurved at first; surface moist or tacky,
