Lactarius olympianus
Species of fungus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lactarius olympianus, commonly known as the olympic milk cap,[1] is a species of mushroom in the family Russulaceae.
| Lactarius olympianus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Russulales |
| Family: | Russulaceae |
| Genus: | Lactarius |
| Species: | L. olympianus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lactarius olympianus | |
| Lactarius olympianus | |
|---|---|
| Mycological characteristics | |
 | Gills on hymenium |
 | Cap is depressed |
 | Hymenium is adnate or subdecurrent |
 | Stipe is bare |
 | Spore print is cream |
 | Ecology is mycorrhizal |
 | Edibility is not recommended |
Description
The cap of Lactarius olympianus is orange in color and about 5-10 centimeters in diameter. It is depressed, and frequently has concentric zones. The gills are yellowish or cream-colored, and sometimes stain brown. They are adnate to subdecurrent.[1] The stipe is white in color and about 2-5 centimeters long and up to 2 centimeters wide. It bruises yellowish to brownish. The spore print is creamy.[2] When cut, this mushroom produces milky white latex.[3] This mushroom has an acrid taste.[1]
Habitat and ecology
Lactarius olympianus is mycorrhizal and can be found in the Western United States.[2] It grows under fir[1] and spruce at high elevations.[2] In the Cascades, it is more often found with fir on the western side and with Engelmann spruce on the eastern side.[1]
