Edible and poisonous mushrooms of Canada

LACTARIUS
blackish gray, smooth or sHghtly flocculose, margin even or wavy, flesh thin,
white, often changing to reddish when wounded or in age, taste and odor mild.
LAMELLAE slightly dccurrcnt, forked, close, narrow, blunt on edge but not
ridge-form, white or stained reddish, stipe 1-3 in. long, Ys-Ya in. thick, equal
or sHghtly tapering upward, whitish or pale gray, usually slightly silky, stuffed
or sohd. SPORES white, smooth, fusiform to fusiform-elliptical, narrow, (8) 10-
12 (14) X 3-4 (5) M.
In groups among moss, usually Polytrichum. July-Oct.
On account of the relatively thin, close lamellae, this species is rather
difficult to place at first, and the beginner is inclined to look for it in Clitocybe.
Once it is recognized as a Cantharellus, however, it is easy to identify and will
not be confused with any other species in this genus. The grayish, umbonate
pileus, the reddening of the flesh and lamellae, and the habitat among mosses
are all distinctive characters. It is said to be edible but because of its small size
is not Hkely to tempt many.
Singer has considered the amyloid spores and well-formed lamellae of
this species to be sufficiently distinct to separate it from Cantharellus and he
has made it the type of a new genus Cantharellula. Other species that Singer
has included in Cantharellula are Clitocybe ectypoides Peck and C. cyathiformis
(Bull, ex Fr.) Kummer.
LACTARIUS
The principal distinguishing character of Lactarius is the presence of a
latex or milky juice. This latex can best be demonstrated by cutting or breaking
the lamellae or flesh of young specimens. It is sometimes difficult to demon-
strate in old specimens or under very dry conditions, but the apex of the stipe
where it meets the lamellae is a good place to try. A few other mushrooms do
have a latex but they do not resemble Lactarius in stature. Lactarius species
have a characteristic, rather stiff stature and brittle texture that results from
the tissue of the fruit body being composed of many large, round cells termed
sphaerocysts, as well as the usual filamentous hyphae found in other mushrooms.
The spores are invariably ornamented with more or less prominent
warts and spines or with a raised network. This ornamentation is strongly
amyloid, and the pattern of the ornamentation as observed under very high
magnification is important in critical identification of species. The spores
should be measured in side view since those seen in end view will appear to
be globose.
These characteristic spores and the presence of sphaerocysts in the tissues
are features that distinguish the genera Lactarius and Russula from all other
mushrooms and these two genera are sometimes placed in a separate family,
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