LACTARIUS, LACTIFLUUS and RUSSULA

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. 

Lactarius red-brown A 02129

Lactarius sp.

LACTARIUS

LACTARIUS____aspideoides______argillaceifolius______atroviridis____camphoratus____chelidonium ____chrysorrheus____cinereus var. cinereus____cinereus var. fagitorum ____croceus____deceptivus___deterrimus____fuliginosus____fumosus

____gerardii var. gerardii____gerardii var. subrufescens____glaucascens ____griseus____imperceptus____indigo____helvus ____hepaticus____hibbardae 

____hygrophoroides (see LACTIFLUUS)____lignyotellus____lignyotus var. canadensis

____lignyotus var. lignyotus____lignyotus var. nigroviolescens____luridus____luteolus (see LACTIFLUUS ____maculatipes____maculatus____mucidus____mutabilis____oculatus____peckii____piperatus

____psammicola____pubescens____pubescens var. betulae____ quietus var. incanus ____rufus____sordidus ____subplinthogalis____subpurpureus____subvellereus (see LACTIFLUUS)____subvellereus var. subdistans (see LACTIFLUUS)____subvernalis var. cokeri ____thyinos____torminosus___uvidus____vinaceorufescens

____volemus (see LACTIFLUUS)


LACTIFLUUS

LACTIFLUUS (LACTARIUS)____corrugis____hygrophoroides ____luteolus____subvellereus____subvellereus var.  subdistans ____volemus____volemus var. flavus


RUSSULA

RUSSULA____aeruginea____albonigra____amoenolens____aquosa____ballouii____betularum____brevipes ____brunneola____cessans____claroflava____compacta____crustosa____cyanoxantha____decolorans ____densifolia ____dissimulans____earliae____emetica____flavida ____flavisiccans ____foetentula ____fragilis____fragrantissima____fucosa____granulata____grata(laurocerasi) ____heterophylla ____inochlora ____mariae____modesta____mutabilis____nigricans____ochroleucoides ____paludosa____parvovirescens____peckii____pectinoides____polyphylla____puellaris____pulchra____redolens____roseipes____rubescens____rugulosa____sanguinea____sericiceonitens____silvicola____simulans

____simillima____subgraminicolor ____subpunctata____unicalis____variata____ventricosipes

____vinacea____xeramphalina