Lactarius rubrilacteus
Lactarius rubrilacteus is a species of mushroom of the genus Lactarius. It is also known as the bleeding milkcap. It is edible but of low interest.
Description
The mushroom can have either a bluish-green or an orangy-brown hue. It bruises green, and is more commonly greenish in old, damaged, or unexpanded specimens. It has many laticifers which appear as a white network across its surface.The cap of the mushroom is convex, sometimes shield-shaped, and across; it also has quite an underfolded margin and a depressive disk. The stem is coloured like the cap, up to 6 cm long and 2.5 cm thick.
When sliced or cut, the mushroom flesh will typically release a dark red to purple latex or milky substance. The flesh will lose colour when damaged, and is usually granular or brittle to the touch. The fungus exudes a slight odour that is faintly aromatic.
The spores are creamy white or yellow and ellipsoid in shape. The spore print is beige.
Chemical reactivity
- Potassium hydroxide: When the mushroom comes in contact with potassium hydroxide, most of the mushroom, including the mantle and ectomycorrhizae, loses its bluish hue and becomes a dull brown.
- Melzer's reagent: Hardly any visible reaction on any part of the mushroom occurs. This particular mushroom appears to have little reactivity to Melzer's Reagent.
- Sulfovanillin: Most of the mushroom becomes a reddish-brown color, but the oldest roots of the fungi stay unaltered by contact with sulfovanillin.