Lactarius lignyotis
Key to Gilled Mushrooms KeyThis is a key to gilled mushrooms, that is, mushrooms having a definite cap with a fertile surface consisting of gills. The fruiting body usually also has a stem, although that may be lateral or absent (usually, then, the mushroom is growing from wood). You can use this key to identify mushrooms that you find.
Russulales SuborderFlesh without fibers, fracturing with the same sort of break as a piece of chalk
Spore and gill color limited to white, yellow, or ochre
Mycorrhizal: occuring only on the ground, and only when there are trees nearby
No ring or volva on stalk
All fleshy-stemmed mushrooms whose gills exude a latex when cut go here
Lactarius GenusFruiting bodies (especially the gills) exuding a liquid (called a latex) when broken
Stalk (and sometimes even gills) usually concolorous with cap
Lactarius lignyotis Fries
Here are the characters that distinguish this species from the others in its group. For its more general characters, see higher up on the page.
If there's just a few words or a microscopic feature here, a more thorough description can be found above.
Diagnosis
- Cap up to 4" across; deep black at first, fading to brown in age; gradually umbonate; often wrinkled
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Latex white, abundant, staining cut surfaces reddish
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Spore print bright ochre
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On the ground and among mosses in conifer woods and sphagnum bogs
- Stem light brown; often grooved at the top
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Often grows in moss
Microscropic Characters
Comments
Several varieties of this species are recognized:
var. nigroviolascens (Atkinson) Hesler and Smith:
Cut flesh staining dark purple
Spores 7-11 x 7-9 µm
var. marginatus (Smith and Hesler) Hesler and Smith:
Cut flesh staining light purple
Gills hopefully marginate
Spores 9-11 x 8.5-10 µm
