Indigo Milk Cap Lactarius indigo (Schweinitz) Fries    Synonyms: Indigo Milky, Indigo Milky Cap.
Kingdom Fungi   >   Phylum Basidiomycota   >   Class Agaricomycetes   >   Order Russulales   >   Family Russulaceae   >   Genus Lactarius   

Status:

Found solitary or scattered on the ground in oak or pine forests.

Description:

Cap: Various shades of blue or blue-gray, center slightly depressed to funnel-shaped; smooth; bruises a deep green; flesh white but immediately turns blue when cut. Latex a lovely indigo blue which slowly turns dark green when exposed to air; stains fingers. Gills: Pale bluish-white, sometimes with green stains; close. Stalk: Indigo/blue-gray; stout. Whole fruiting body may be sticky when wet. (J. Solem, pers. comm.)

There are 34 records in the project database.

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Indigo Milk Cap in Harford Co., Maryland (9/18/2018). Verified by Anne Looker. Photo by Tulsa Simpson. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/9/2017). Photo by Bill Hill. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Harford Co., Maryland (9/1/2018). Verified by Anne Looker. Photo by Tulsa Simpson. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/8/2021). (c) Cindi Fitzgerald, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by cin579 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap growing in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/29/2018). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Howard Co., Maryland (9/12/2014). Gills showing blue latex after bruising. Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/8/2021). (c) Cindi Fitzgerald, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by cin579 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Indigo Milk Cap in Howard Co., Maryland (9/1/2011). This cut fruiting body shows the stalk, gills, flesh, and blue latex. Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap (cap) in Howard Co., Maryland (9/12/2014). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap (fruiting body) in Howard Co., Maryland (9/12/2014). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/12/2016). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Howard Co., Maryland (9/12/2014). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/5/2019). Photo by Bonnie Bell. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Howard Co., Maryland (9/12/2014). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

An Indigo Milk Cap in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/30/2014). Photo by Lance Biechele. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Harford Co., Maryland (6/22/2019). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Harford Co., Maryland (6/22/2019). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Spores of Indigo Milk Cap in Howard Co., Maryland (9/12/2014). (c) Joanne and Robert Solem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/5/2017). Photo by Tulsa Simpson. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap growing in Howard Co., Maryland (7/26/2019). Determined by Jo Solem. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Indigo Milk Cap in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/29/2018). Photo by Bonnie Bell. (MBP list)

Spores collected from an Indigo Milk Cap specimen in Howard Co., Maryland (9/12/2014). Oval, ornamented; measured 6.9-7.7 x 5.2-5.8 microns. Photo by Robert Solem. (MBP list)


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