Lactarius hysginus

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Mushrooms

By Roger Phillips

Published 2006

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Lactarius hysginus (Fr.) Fr. (illustrated 40% life size) Cap 4–10cm across, at first flattened convex, then with a shallow depression or broadly funnel-shaped, margin inrolled at first, regular to somewhat irregular; reddish-bay at first then becoming paler, especially towards the margin and here as pale as rosy buff, sometimes with purplish or flesh tinges, occasionally with indistinct, darker, concentric bands; surface sticky when moist, radially wrinkled. Stem 25–70×10–25mm, cylindrical to spindle-shaped or variously misshapen; whitish, brownish-buff, or pale pinkish-fawn, sometimes with more or less oval, pale, dull brick blotches; stuffed, later with a cavity, slightly longitudinally wrinkled, slightly sticky when moist. Flesh white with a tinge of cap colour below the cap cuticle. Gills slightly to moderately decurrent, closely spaced, rather narrow; at first pale, dull golden-yellow, later saffron. Milk abundant, white; taste acrid and very hot. Spores 6.5–7.5×5.5–6.5¼, broadly elliptical; low but sometimes wide warts, joined by ridges, at times thick and tending to run across the spore. Spore print deep cream (E) with a slight salmon tinge. Habitat with conifers; summer to autumn. Uncommon. Not edible.