Lactarius turpis

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iLactarius turpis
L. turpis
L. turpis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Order: Russulales
Family: Russulaceae
Genus: Lactarius
Species: L. turpis
Binomial name
Lactarius turpis
Lactarius turpis
mycological characteristics:
 
gills on hymenium
 

cap is depressed

 

hymenium is decurrent

 

stipe is bare

 

spore print is white

 

ecology is mycorrhizal

 

edibility: edible


Lactarius turpis (also L. plumbeus or L. necator) is sometimes known as the Ugly Milk-cap in English. It is associated with birch and also pine.

[edit] Description

The cap is 8-20cm in diameter and funnel-shaped with a depressed centre. The upper surface is smooth and olive-brown to black. At first it is rather viscid in the middle and velvety/shaggy at the rim with a yellower-green colour. The messy, dirty appearance, seen in the photograph, is characteristic of the species and gives it its English name and the original Latin name (turpis). It seems to collect debris on top and the gills acquire a dirty brownish staining due to discoloured milk. It also demonstrates another common phenomenon in mycology: the Latin names keep changing.

[edit] Edibility

The Ugly milk-cap can be eaten after boiling.

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