Lactarius 1849446 220957163 2008-06-22T11:40:38Z Ka Faraq Gatri 6892069 Category:Russulales {{For|the genus of fish named ''Lactarius''|Lactarius (Lactariidae)}} {{Taxobox | name = ''Lactarius'' | image = Lactarius vietus041031w.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = ''Lactarius vietus'' | regnum = [[Fungi]] | subregnum = [[Dikarya]] | phylum = [[Basidiomycota]] | subphylum = [[Agaricomycotina]] | classis = [[Agaricomycetes]] | ordo = [[Russulales]] | ordo = [[Russulales]] | familia = [[Russulaceae]] | genus = '''''Lactarius''''' | genus_authority = [[Christian Hendrik Persoon|Pers.]] 1797 | diversity = c.400 species | diversity_link = List of Lactarius species }} Fungi of the genus '''''Lactarius''''', sometimes called '''milk-caps''', are characterized by the fact that they exude a milky fluid ('latex') if cut or damaged. Like the genus ''[[Russula]]'', with which they are grouped in the family '''[[Russulaceae]]''', their flesh has a distinctive brittle consistency. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russulacae Often the [[Gill (mushroom)|gills]] are decurrent (starting to run down the stem) and the cap is depressed or even funnel-shaped when older. The stem and cap sometimes show 'strobicules' (or 'strobiculi'), which are flat-based shallow oval pits. To identify to which of the roughly 400 ''Lactarius'' species a given specimen belongs, it is generally important to note whether the cap is bald/greasy or velvety or hairy/shaggy at the rim, particularly in young individuals. Also the initial colour of the milk (white, cream, orange, violet, ...) and the final colour on drying are determining characteristics. The genus was described by [[Christian Hendrik Persoon]] in 1797. ''Lactarius'' is derived from the [[Latin]] ''[[wikt:lac#Latin|lac]]'' '[[milk]]'. ==A selection of well-known European species== {{main|List of Lactarius species}} *''[[Lactarius turpis]]'' - ugly milk-cap *''[[Lactarius torminosus]]'' - woolly milk-cap *''[[Lactarius uvidus]]'' ===Section ''Deliciosi''=== *''[[Lactarius deliciosus]]'' *''[[Lactarius deterrimus]]'' *''[[Lactarius salmonicolor]]'' <br clear="all"> [[Image:Lactarius salmonicolor.jpg|thumb|110px|left|''Lactarius salmonicolor'']] This group of mushrooms has orange or red milk and carrot-orange coloration, in many cases becoming flecked with green or blue-green with age. They are all generally considered to be edible and tasty, the appetizingly named ''Lactarius deliciosus'' reputedly being much better than the others. They grow in coniferous woods. ''L. deliciosus'' is the only one with an English name: 'saffron milk-cap'. It is found under pine or spruce. ''L. deterrimus'' was formerly considered to be a variety of ''L. deliciosus'' and is distinguished by the milk turning wine-red on drying - but only after up to 30 minutes. ''L. salmonicolor'' is associated with spruce and remains a pure orange, unlike the other two which discolour green. ===''Lactarius chrysorrheus''=== [[Image:Lactarius chrysorreus 041113w.jpg|120px|right]] The milk of this mushroom emerges white but immediately changes to a deep yellow colour. The top of the cap is a pinkish red with concentric zoning on a background showing yellow tints. It is common under broad-leaved trees, especially oak. There are conflicting reports as to its edibility. ===''Lactarius decipiens''=== [[Image:Lactarius decipiens 031111w.jpg|120px|left]] This flesh-coloured Lactarius is closely related to ''L. chrysorrheus'', and again the milk is initially white and turns yellow, but only after several seconds. To allow the milk to contact the air this is best tested on a paper tissue (a cloth handkerchief is liable to be permanently stained). ===''Lactarius quietus''=== [[Image:Lactarius quietus 051106w.jpg|120px|right]] ''L. quietus'', which is commonly found under oak trees, is often thought to be a non-descript mushroom, and in fact that is the significance of its Latin epithet ''quietus''. It has a distinctive smell said to be of bedbugs or of wet laundry. The milk goes a little cream but does not change further. ==References== *Partly from Dutch Wikipedia pages. *Meinhard Moser, translated by Simon Plant: ''Keys to Agarics and Boleti'' (Roger Phillips 1983) *Régis Courtecuisse, Bernard Duhem : ''Guide des champignons de France et d'Europe'' (Delachaux & Niestlé, 1994-2000). ISBN 2-603-00953-2 *Roger Phillips : ''Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain and Europe'' (Pan Books Ltd. 1981 / Book Club Associates 1981) - for the English names. *Annemieke Verbeken (2001). ''Worldwide systematics of ''Lactarius'': a state of art''. Micologia e vegetazione mediterranea, 16(1): 71-88 {{Commons|Lactarius}} ==External links== * [http://www.hti.umich.edu:80/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=fung1tc;cc=fung1tc;view=toc;idno=AAC3719.0001.001 ''North American species of Lactarius''] by L. R. Hesler and Alexander H. Smith, 1979. (Full text of monograph.) * [http://www.mtsn.tn.it/russulales-news Russulales News] [[Category:Russulales]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russulacae] {{see for a list of some lactarius species and edibility, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russulacae}} {| class="wikitable" |- |} [[bg:Млечница (род)]] [[de:Milchlinge]] [[fr:Lactaire]] [[it:Lactarius]] [[lt:Piengrybis]] [[nl:Melkzwam]] [[ja:チチタケ属]] [[no:Risker]] [[pl:Mleczaj]] [[ru:Млечник (род грибов)]] [[fi:Rouskut]] [[tr:Lactarius]] [[uk:Хрящ-молочник]]