Lactarius scrobiculatus
{{Short description|Species of fungus}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Lactarius scrobiculatus.JPG
| genus = Lactarius
| species = scrobiculatus
| authority = (Scop.) Fr. (1838)http://www.indexfungorum.org/Names/NamesRecord.asp?RecordID=196637 Index Fungorum
| synonyms =Agaricus scrobiculatus Scop. (1772)
Agaricus intermedius Fr. (1815)
Galorrheus scrobiculatus (Scop.) P.Kumm. (1871)
Lactifluus scrobiculatus (Scop.) Kuntze (1891)
}}
{{mycomorphbox
| name = Lactarius scrobiculatus
| whichGills = decurrent
| capShape = depressed
| hymeniumType=gills
| stipeCharacter=bare
| ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
| sporePrintColor=cream
| howEdible=inedible
}}
Lactarius scrobiculatus, commonly known as the scrobiculate milk cap,{{Cite book |last=Arora |first=David |author-link=David Arora |url=https://archive.org/details/arora-david-mushrooms-demystified-a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-fleshy-fungi-ten-speed-press-1986/page/73/mode/2up |title=Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi |date=1986 |publisher=Ten Speed Press |isbn=978-0-89815-170-1 |edition=2nd |location=Berkeley, CA |pages=73-74 |orig-date=1979}} is a basidiomycete fungus, belonging to the genus Lactarius, the members of which are called "milk caps".
The distinctive fruiting bodies of this large fungus are locally common in forests throughout Europe and North America. It is regarded as inedible by some authors, but it is nevertheless eaten in parts of Europe.
Taxonomy
The species is placed in subgenus Piperites, section Zonarii, subsection Scrobiculati.List of Lactarius species
Description
Lactarius scrobiculatus produces large agaricoid fruiting bodies which arise from soil. The cap has an eye-catching orange to yellow coloration and is covered with small scales arranged in indistinctive concentric rings. The surface is wet, glossy and slimy especially in wet weather. The cap may be wide, about {{Convert|15|cm|frac=4}} wide when mature, with a depressed centre and slightly enrolled margin. The gills are crowded and coloured cream to yellow, with darker patches being present sometimes. When cut, the gills bleed copious amounts of a white to cream milk (latex), which soon darkens to yellow. The stem, in relation to the cap, is quite short and stubby, in addition to being hollow. The surface is cap-coloured but the presence of small pits, filled with fluid, is a key identifying feature. The spores are coloured creamy with an elliptical-globular shape.{{cite book|last=Mabey|first=Richard|year=1993|title=Mushrooms & Toadstools of Britain and Europe|publisher=David & Charles|pages=106|isbn=0-7153-0155-1}}
When a small piece of flesh is chewed, it tastes bitter to acrid. One researcher reports developing a numbness in the mouth after nibbling on a piece.{{cite web | title=Poisonous and Hallucinogenic Mushrooms | publisher=The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA | url=http://academic.evergreen.edu/projects/mushrooms/phm/s60.htm | access-date=June 14, 2007 }} It does not have a discernible smell.
There are several recognised varieties, including var. canadensis. var. montanus and var. pubescens.{{cite web | title=Lactarius scrobiculatus varieties | publisher=Russulales News | url=http://www.mtsn.tn.it/russulales-news/tx_results.asp?f_rank=all&f_genus=Lactarius&f_epithet=scrobiculatus&f_author=&f_from_year=&f_to_year= | access-date=June 19, 2007 }}
=Similar species=
Similar species include Lactarius alnicola, L. controversus, L. plumbeus, L. repraesentaneus, and L. torminosus.{{cite book|last1=Trudell|first1=Steve|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WevHvt6Tr8kC|title=Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest|last2=Ammirati|first2=Joe|publisher=Timber Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0-88192-935-5|series=Timber Press Field Guides|location=Portland, OR|pages=61}}
Distribution and habitat
Lactarius scrobiculatus is known to occur throughout Europe, and to a lesser extent North America where its occurrence is rare.{{cite web | title=Rogers Mushrooms - Lactarius scrobiculatus | publisher=Rogers Mushrooms | url=http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6338.asp | access-date=June 14, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927224320/http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6338.asp | archive-date=September 27, 2007 | url-status=dead }} It occurs primarily in coniferous and birch forests.{{cite book | author=Vishnevskiy M. | year=2007 | script-title=ru:Настольная Книга Начинающего Грибника | publisher=Восток - Запад | language=Russian | pages=60 | isbn=978-5-478-00694-5}} It forms mycorrhizal relationships and appears to prefer damp, shady and boggy areas. The fruiting bodies appear in troops, sometimes forming fairy rings and only rarely occur singly. The fruiting season is summer to autumn.
Edibility
Most authors consider the species inedible.{{cite book |author=Mabey R. |title=Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe |publisher=David & Charles |year=1994 |isbn=0-7153-0155-1}}{{cite web | title=Lactarius scrobiculatus at NaGrzyby | language=Polish | publisher=NaGrzyby.pl | url=http://www.nagrzyby.pl/index.php?artname=gatunek&id=190 | access-date=October 11, 2010 }}{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=Roger |title=Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America |year=2010 |orig-year=2005 |publisher=Firefly Books |location=Buffalo, NY |isbn=978-1-55407-651-2 |page=113}} It is collected and eaten in parts of eastern Europe and Russia after salting, pickling and thorough cooking.{{cite web | title=Fungi of Kaluga Oblast: Lactarius scrobiculatus | publisher=Vyacheslav Stepanov | language=Russian | url=http://www.mycoweb.narod.ru/fungi/Lactarius_scrobiculatus.html | access-date=October 11, 2010 }} Consuming it causes gastrointestinal upset.{{cite book |author=Hall. I.R. |title=Edible and poisonous mushrooms of the world |publisher=Timber Press |location=Portland |year=2003 |page=110 |isbn=0-88192-586-1}} Careful preparation seeks to neutralise the acrid taste. This usually involves a process of boiling, during which the water is discarded. Further cooking and pickling may not eliminate the possibility of distressing symptoms.
See also
References
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Category:Fungi described in 1772