Blue Milk (Lactarius repraesentaneus)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Incertae sedis (undefined)
- Order: Russulales
- Family: Russulaceae (Russula)
- Genus: Lactarius (Miller)
- Species: Lactarius repraesentaneus (Blue Milk)
Synonyms:
- Milk yellow blue
- Milk golden yellow lilac
- Canine milk
- Dog lump
- Lilac lilac
- Milk purple
- Millechnik representative
- Spruce mushroom
Collection points:
Blue lactus (Lactarius repraesentaneus) is found under birch and pine in damp areas of deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests.
Description:
Blue lactus (Lactarius repraesentaneus) has a yellowish cap, velvety, shaggy at the edges. The pulp is dense, white, bitter in taste, the milky juice is white, but in the air it becomes purple in color. The plates are frequent, narrow, descending, pale yellow with a purple tint. The leg is thick (up to 3 cm), loose inside, hollow when ripe, turns blue when touched.
Differences:
The blue lump has the same yellow cap as the yellow lump, but it is distinguished by the characteristic purple color of the milky juice at the break. The same shade is in his rare records. This unusual color often scares off pickers, although blue milk mushrooms are quite tasty when salted.
Using:
Conditionally edible mushroom, second category. Harvested in late July - August. The mushroom is suitable only for pickling.