''Lactarius controversus'', commonly known as the blushing milkcap, is a large funnel-capped

fungus A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...

within the genus ''

Lactarius ''Lactarius'' is a genus of mushroom-producing, ectomycorrhizal fungi, containing several edible species. The species of the genus, commonly known as milk-caps, are characterized by the milky fluid ("latex") they exude when cut or damaged. Like ...

'', which are collectively known as 'milk caps'. They all exude milky drops (lactate) from the flesh and gills when damaged.

Taxonomy

Accredited to

Christian Hendrik Persoon Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (1 February 1761 – 16 November 1836) was a German mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy. Early life Persoon was born in South Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, the third child of an imm ...

, one of the fathers of

mycology Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans, including as a source for tinder, traditional medicine, food, and entheogens, as ...

Description

It is distinguishable mainly by its pinkish-buff gills and rosy markings on the upper

cap A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...

surface, often arranged in concentric rings. Like other fungi in the genus, it has crumbly, rather than fibrous, flesh, and when this is broken the fungus exudes a white milky liquid. Mature specimens are funnel-shaped, with

decurrent gills In mycology, a lamella, or gill, is a papery hymenophore rib under the cap of some mushroom species, most often agarics. The gills are used by the mushrooms as a means of spore dispersal, and are important for species identification. The att ...

and a concave cap from 15 to 30 (45) cm in diameter. It has firm, tough flesh, and a stipe which is shorter than the fruitbody is wide. The

spore print 300px, Making a spore print of the mushroom ''Volvariella volvacea'' shown in composite: (photo lower half) mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; (photo upper half) cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print. A 3.5-centimeter ...

is creamy-pink in colour. ''Lactarius controversus'' is similar to several white milk-caps in the genus ''

Lactifluus ''Lactifluus'' is one of three genera of mushroom-forming fungi containing species commonly named " milk-caps", the others being ''Lactarius'' and ''Multifurca''. It has been separated from ''Lactarius'' based on molecular phylogenetic evidence ...

'' which however are only distantly related: The 'fleecy milk-cap' ''

Lactifluus vellereus ''Lactifluus vellereus'' (formerly ''Lactarius vellereus''), commonly known as the fleecy milk-cap, is a quite large fungus in the genus ''Lactifluus''. It is one of the two most common milk-caps found with beech trees, with the other being '' L ...

'', its sister species '' Lf. bertillonii'', and the 'peppery milk-cap' '' Lf. piperatus'' all lack the pinkish gills and 'rosy'

markings.

Distribution and habitat

It is found in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

, and

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

, and usually grows with species of

Salix Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...

(Goat willow or Creeping willow) on heaths and moors. It is uncommon. It is widespread in

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

growing with

aspen Aspen is a common name for certain tree species; some, but not all, are classified by botanists in the section ''Populus'', of the ''Populus'' genus. Species These species are called aspens: *'' Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (China ...

, poplar, and

willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist s ...

. Found in the aspen forests of the Sierra Nevada, and has been noted in New Mexico.

Edibility

This mushroom is considered inedible in western Europe due to its very acrid taste, but is eaten, and even commercially collected, in south-eastern European countries such as Serbia and Turkey.

References

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q1575309 controversus Inedible fungi Fungi described in 1800 Fungi of Europe Taxa named by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon

Taxonomy

Description

Distribution and habitat

Edibility

See also

References