Lactarius, Lactifluus, and Russulas are all closely related. All are formed with mainly spherical cells, which is why they are subject to breaking like a piece of chalk. The main difference between them is that species of Lactarius and Lactifluus emit a fluid when scratched. Color of the fluid can be anywhere from clear to white, yellow, red, orange, blue depending on the species. The amount of latex changes over the course of a milk-mushroom's life, but can be scanty to voluminous depending on the species. In some species, the latex color changes from white to another color, such as yellow, on exposure to air. Lactifluus species are more common in tropical areas, but we have several representatives in the northeast, including choice edibles such as Lactifluus corrgis, Lactifluus hygrophoroides and Lactifluus volemus. They all ‘bleed’ copious amounts of latex.
____hygrophoroides (see LACTIFLUUS)____lignyotellus____lignyotus var. canadensis
LACTIFLUUS
RUSSULA
____simillima____subgraminicolor ____subpunctata____unicalis____variata____ventricosipes