Lactifluus volemus

Lactifluus volemus
A collection from Wayne National Forest, Ohio, showing typical colour variations
Lactifluus volemus var. flavus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Russulales
Family: Russulaceae
Genus: Lactifluus
Species:
L. volemus
Binomial name
Lactifluus volemus
(Fr.) Kuntze (1891)
Synonyms[1][2][3]
List
  • Agaricus lactifluus L. (1753)
  • Agaricus oedematopus Scop. (1772)
  • Agaricus volemus Fr. (1821)
  • Lactarius oedematopus (Scop.) Fr. (1838)
  • Lactarius volemus (Fr.) Fr. (1838)
  • Galorrheus volemus (Fr.) P.Kumm. (1871)
  • Lactarius lactifluus (L.) Quél. (1886)
  • Lactifluus oedematopus (Scop.) Kuntze (1891)
  • Lactarius wangii H.A.Wen & J.Z.Ying (2005)
Lactifluus volemus
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Gills on hymenium
Cap is convex
Hymenium is adnate or decurrent
Stipe is bare
Spore print is white
Ecology is mycorrhizal
Edibility is choice

Lactifluus volemus, formerly known as Lactarius volemus, and commonly known as the weeping milk cap or bradley,[4] is a species of fungus in the family Russulaceae. It is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere, in temperate regions of Europe, North America and Asia as well as some subtropical and tropical regions of Central America and Asia. A mycorrhizal fungus, its fruit bodies grow on the ground at the base of various species of trees from summer to autumn, either individually or in groups. It is valued as an edible mushroom, and is sold in markets in Asia. Several other Lactifluus mushrooms resemble L. volemus, such as the closely related edible species L. corrugis, but these can be distinguished by differences in distribution, visible morphology, and microscopic characteristics. L. volemus produces a white spore print and has roughly spherical spores about 7–8 micrometres in diameter.

The colour of the L. volemus mushroom varies from apricot to tawny, and the cap may be up to 11 cm (4+1⁄2 in) wide. The pale golden yellow gills on the underside of the cap are closely spaced and sometimes forked. One of the mushroom's most distinctive features is the large amount of latex ("milk") that it exudes when the gills are damaged, leading to the common names weeping milk cap and voluminous-latex milky. It also has a distinctive fishy smell, which does not affect the taste. The fruit bodies have been chemically analysed and found to contain several sterols related to ergosterol, some of which are unique to this species. The mushroom also contains a natural rubber that has been chemically characterized. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Lactifluus volemus represents several species or subspecies, rather than a single taxon.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference urlFungorum - Species synonymy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Smith1979 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wang2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms demystified: a comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi (Second ed.). Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 978-0-89815-169-5.