Lactarius theiogalus
Encyclopedia
Lactarius tabidus commonly known as the Birch Milkcap, is an inedible mushroom of the genus Lactarius
. It can be found in North America and Europe, and grows at the base of pine in Autumn. Its white milk stains fabric a sulphur yellow, from which its specific epithet derives.
, and to Pierre Bulliard, while the synonymous specific name L. theiogalus is variously credited to Fries and Samuel Frederick Gray
. The name theiogalus is from the Ancient Greek
for "brimstone" (sulphur) and "milk
". The mushroom has also been named L. chrysorrheus by Lucien Quélet
, based on Fries's description, and Lactarius hepaticus, with the authority cited to Charles Bagge Plowright of the British Mycological Society
and Jean Louis Émile Boudier
. Due to reclassification, Lactarius theiogalus is now considered to be a synonym of Lactarius tabidus, and the binomials Lactarius hepaticus and Lactarius chrysorrheus
have been assigned to different Lactarius species.
of between 2.5 and 7 centimetres across, sometimes with a central umbo, that flattens with age. In colour, it varies between liver and a dull chestnut, and the surface is dry and matt. The margin is often has tiny lobes, and can be crimped or crisped. The stem typically measures between 3 and 7 centimetres in height, and is between 4 and 8 millimetres in width. In colour, the stem
varies between a reddish brown and brick coloured. The thin layer of flesh in the cap is a white-tinged pinkish buff colour, and the stem and cap become hollow with age. The pale buff gills are slightly decurrent, and with age become a deep buff to pale ochre colour, sometimes with a slight mauve colouration. The milk
is white, drying yellow. The milk stains fabric a sulphur yellow colour in minutes.
The spore print is cream, while the spores themselves are broadly elliptic with large warts. Most warts are joined by thin to thickish ridges, forming a very incomplete network. Other warts are isolated. The spores measure between 8 and 9 by between 6 and 7 micrometres in volume.
, becoming rarer northwards. It can also be found in North America. It grows best in leaf litter or Sphagnum
moss.
Lactarius
Lactarius is a genus of mushroom-producing fungi. The genus, collectively known commonly as milk-caps, are characterized by the fact that they exude a milky fluid if cut or damaged...
. It can be found in North America and Europe, and grows at the base of pine in Autumn. Its white milk stains fabric a sulphur yellow, from which its specific epithet derives.
Taxonomy
The original description of L. tabidus has been various ascribed to Elias Magnus FriesElias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
, and to Pierre Bulliard, while the synonymous specific name L. theiogalus is variously credited to Fries and Samuel Frederick Gray
Samuel Frederick Gray
Samuel Frederick Gray was a British botanist, mycologist, and pharmacologist. He was the father of the zoologists John Edward Gray and George Robert Gray.-Background:...
. The name theiogalus is from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
for "brimstone" (sulphur) and "milk
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
". The mushroom has also been named L. chrysorrheus by Lucien Quélet
Lucien Quélet
thumb|Lucien QuéletLucien Quélet was a French mycologist and naturalist who discovered several species and was the founder of the Société mycologique de France, a society devoted to mycological studies....
, based on Fries's description, and Lactarius hepaticus, with the authority cited to Charles Bagge Plowright of the British Mycological Society
British Mycological Society
The British Mycological Society is a learned society established in 1896 to promote the study of fungi.-Formation:The Society was formed based on the efforts of two local societies, the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club of Hereford and the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. The curator of the Hereford...
and Jean Louis Émile Boudier
Jean Louis Émile Boudier
Jean Louis Émile Boudier was a pharmacist who lived in Montmorency, France. He published a fair amount about the Discomycetes and other areas of mycology...
. Due to reclassification, Lactarius theiogalus is now considered to be a synonym of Lactarius tabidus, and the binomials Lactarius hepaticus and Lactarius chrysorrheus
Lactarius chrysorrheus
Lactarius chrysorrheus is a member of the Lactarius genus, whose many members are commonly known as Milkcaps. It has recently been given the English name of the Yellowdrop Milkcap...
have been assigned to different Lactarius species.
Description
Lactarius tabidus has a convex capPileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
of between 2.5 and 7 centimetres across, sometimes with a central umbo, that flattens with age. In colour, it varies between liver and a dull chestnut, and the surface is dry and matt. The margin is often has tiny lobes, and can be crimped or crisped. The stem typically measures between 3 and 7 centimetres in height, and is between 4 and 8 millimetres in width. In colour, the stem
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
varies between a reddish brown and brick coloured. The thin layer of flesh in the cap is a white-tinged pinkish buff colour, and the stem and cap become hollow with age. The pale buff gills are slightly decurrent, and with age become a deep buff to pale ochre colour, sometimes with a slight mauve colouration. The milk
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
is white, drying yellow. The milk stains fabric a sulphur yellow colour in minutes.
The spore print is cream, while the spores themselves are broadly elliptic with large warts. Most warts are joined by thin to thickish ridges, forming a very incomplete network. Other warts are isolated. The spores measure between 8 and 9 by between 6 and 7 micrometres in volume.
Edibility
The fruit bodies of L. tabidus are considered inedible. The milk has bitter and acrid taste, with a slightly hot aftertaste. The fact that the white milk dries yellow is an indicator that it may be poisonous.Distribution
Lactarius tabidus can be found under pine in autumn. It is common in southern BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, becoming rarer northwards. It can also be found in North America. It grows best in leaf litter or Sphagnum
Sphagnum
Sphagnum is a genus of between 151 and 350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss or sphagnum peat on the other, the...
moss.