McDowell took some snaps to try and see what the story was with the green. And yup, it’s the elusive milk cap. It seems to stain red and then green after exposure and/or also after bruising it stains green within a few hours. Confused yet, just wait, there’s more…

Called the Delicious Milk Cap (Lactarius deliciosus), it turns out it isn’t so delicious. And no McDowell didn’t try eating it, she trusted the wisdom of David Arora in his book All That the Rain Promises and More… (Our first go-to for mushroom ID. It’s description as “A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms” is not only because the book fits into a large pocket of your pants.) Seems the delicious milk cap is a bit bitter and yeah, so, who named it??

Just one more thing, it’s in the order Russulales. We know what you’re thinking… That explains EveryThing.

**************************************************
Okay, turns out that this is a western version of a European mushroom. Ours is named North American ‘Lactarius deliciosus‘ (in the sense of milk-cap specialists Hesler and Smith) and has not been formally described. A mystery inside an enigma inside a mushroom. For more info regarding this version please see Lactarius deliciosus sensu Hesler and Smith — Western saffron milk cap
*************************************************

This milk cap was hanging out with friends on Mount Elphie happy as can be with no idea of all the hubbub.

It was the green staining that caught our attention.

McDowell seems to remember having hair that colour of green in her punk years.

Delicious Milk Cap (Lactarius deliciosus)

Lactarius deliciosus, commonly known as the saffron milk cap and red pine mushroom, is one of the best known members of the large milk-cap genus Lactarius in the order Russulales. It is found in Europe and has been accidentally introduced to other countries under conifers and can be found growing in pine plantations. A fresco in the Roman town of Herculaneum appears to depict Lactarius deliciosus and is one of the earliest pieces of art to illustrate a fungus.

More information: Lactarius deliciosus: Wikipedia

But as stated above this mushroom is the western saffron milk cap that grows in BC and the Pacific northwest.

And why? Because is it a Russula nigricans aka a blackening russula or is it a Russula dissimulans, the so-called North American version of R.nigricansas as Shaffer (and try to find out who that is, I dare you) defined it in1962. Reasoning  – different gill spacing and different spore sizes, which some believe is not enough to call a new species. No wonder McDowell is being creative.

They were everywhere this summer, but McDowell didn’t take any snaps til today up at TrailFest.

About Russula nigricans

Russula nigricans, commonly known as the blackening brittlegill or blackening russula, is a gilled mushroom found in woodland in Europe. It gains both its common and scientific name from its propensity to turn black from cutting or bruising. It is edible but of indifferent quality. Russula nigricans appears in late summer and autumn in both deciduous and coniferous woodland across Britain, Northern Europe, and at least the East Coast of North America. [And that’s why McDowell needs help on this ID – unless she feel asleep and woke up on the East Coast – Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!]

More information: Russula nigricans, Wikipedia