The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Part 35

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 139.--Lactarius atroviridus. Cap and stem dark green. Cap depressed in center. Gills white.]

Atroviridus is from _ater_, black; _viridus_, green; so called from the color of the cap and the stem of the plant.

The pileus is convex, plane, then depressed in the center, with an adherent pellicle, greenish with darker scales, margin involute.

The gills are slightly decurrent, whitish, broad, distant; milk white but not copious as in many of the Lactarii.

The stem is quite short, tapering downward, dark green, scaly.

The stem is so short that the cap seems to be right on the ground, hence it is very easily overlooked. It is found only occasionally on mossy hillsides, where there are not too many leaves. The plant in Figure 139 was found in Haynes' Hollow, near Chillicothe. I have found the plant on top of Mt. Logan. It is found from July to October. I do not know of its edibility. All specimens that I have found I have sent to my Mycological friends. It should be tasted with caution.

_Lactarius subdulcis. Fr._

THE SWEET LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 140.--Lactarius subdulcis.]

Subdulcis means almost sweet, or sweetish.

The pileus is two to three inches broad, rather thin, papillate, convex, then depressed, smooth, even, zoneless, cinnamon-red or tawny-red, margin sometimes wavy.

The gills are rather narrow, thin, close, whitish, often reddish or tinged with red. Spores, 9-10.

The stem is stuffed, then hollow, equal, slightly tapering upward, slender, smooth, sometimes villous at the base. The milk is white, sometimes rather acrid and unpleasant to the taste when raw. It needs to be cooked a long time to make it good.

It is likely to be found anywhere, but it does best in damp places. The plants found with us all seem to have red or cinnamon-red gills, especially before the spores begin to fall. They are found growing on the ground, among leaves, or on well-rotted wood and sometimes on the bare ground. Found from July to November.

_Lactarius serifluus. Fr._

Serifluus means flowing with serum, the watery part of milk.

The pileus is fleshy, depressed in the center, dry, smooth, not zoned, tawny-brown, margin thin, incurved.

The gills are crowded, light-brown, or yellowish, milk scanty and watery.

The stem is solid, equal, paler than the pileus. Spores, 7-8.

It differs from L. subdulcis in having a solid stem and perhaps a shade darker color. Found in woods, July to November.

_Lactarius corrugis. Pk._

THE WRINKLED LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 141.--Lactarius corrugis. Caps wrinkled, tawny-brown. Gills orange-brown.]

Corrugis means wrinkled.

The pileus is convex, plane, expanded, slightly depressed in the center; surface of the cap wrinkled, dry, bay-brown; margin at first involute.

The gills are adnexed, broad, yellowish or brownish-yellow, growing paler with age. The stem is rather short, equal, solid, pruinose, of the same color as the pileus. The spores are subglobose, 10-13.

This species looks very much like L. volemus, and its only essential difference is in the wrinkled form, and color of the pileus. The milk when dry is very sticky and becomes rather black. It has just a touch of acridity.

Any one determining this species will not fail to note the number of brown cystidia or setae, in the hymenium, which project above the surface of the gills. They are so numerous and so near the edge of the gills that they give these a downy appearance. The quality of this species is even better than L. volemus, though it is not as abundant here as the latter. Found in thin woods from August to September. The photograph, Figure 141, was made by Prof. H. C. Beardslee.

_Lactarius volemus. Fr._

THE ORANGE-BROWN LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Photo by Prof. Atkinson._

Figure 142.--Lactarius volemus. Natural size. Caps golden-tawny. Milk copious, as will be seen where the plant has been p.r.i.c.ked.]

_Volemus from volema pira, a kind of a pear_, so called from the shape of the stem. The pileus is broad, flesh thick, compact, rigid, plane, then expanded, obtuse, dry, golden-tawny, at length somewhat wrinkly.

The gills are crowded, adnate or slightly decurrent, white, then yellowish; milk copious, sweet.

The stem is solid, hard, blunt, generally curved like a pear-stem; its color is that of the pileus but a shade lighter. Spores globose, white.

The milk in this species is very abundant and rather pleasant to the taste. It becomes quite sticky as it dries on your hands. This plant has a good record among mushroom eaters, both in this country and Europe.

There is no danger of mistaking it. The plants grow in damp woods from July to September. They are found singly or in patches. They were found quite plentifully about Salem, Ohio, and also about Chillicothe.

_Lactarius deliciosus. Fr._

THE DELICIOUS LACTARIUS. EDIBLE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 143.--Lactarius deliciosus. One-third natural size. Caps light reddish-yellow. Milk orange color.]

Deliciosus, delicious. The pileus is three to five inches broad; color varying from yellow to dull orange or even brownish-yellow with mottled concentric zones of deeper color, especially in younger plants, sometimes a light reddish-yellow, without apparent zones (as is the case of those in Figure 143); convex, when expanded becoming very much depressed; funnel-shaped; smooth, moist, sometimes irregular, wavy; flesh brittle, creamy, more or less stained with orange.

The gills are slightly decurrent in the depressed specimens, somewhat crowded, forked at the stem, short ones beginning at the margin; when bruised exuding a copious supply of milky juice of an orange color; a pale tan-color, turning green in age or in drying. Spores are echinulate, 9-107-8.

The stem is two to three inches or more, equal, smooth, hollow, slightly pruinose, paler than the cap, occasionally spotted with orange, tinged with green in old plants.

The taste of the raw plant is slightly peppery. It grows in damp woods and is sometimes quite common. Its name suggests the estimation in which it is held by all who have eaten it. Like all Lactarii it must be well cooked. The specimens in Figure 143 were gathered on Cemetery Hill close to the pine trees and in company with Boletus America.n.u.s. Found from July to November. I found the plant in a more typical form about Salem, Ohio.

_Lactarius uvidus. Fr._

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 144.--Lactarius uvidus.]

Uvidus is from _uva_, grape, so called because when exposed to the air changes to the color of a grape.