Lactarius torminosus

Taxobox | name = "Lactarius torminosus"

---

regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
class = Homobasidiomycetes
ordo = Russulales
familia = Russulaceae
genus = "Lactarius"
species = "L. torminosus"
binomial = "Lactarius torminosus"
binomial_authority = (Schaeff.) Graymycomorphbox
name = Lactarius torminosus
whichGills = decurrent
capShape = depressed
hymeniumType=gills
stipeCharacter=bare
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
sporePrintColor=white
howEdible=poisonous

"Lactarius torminosus", commonly known as the Woolly milk-cap, is a large basidiomycete fungus in the genus "Lactarius". Alhough it is valued for its peppery flavour and eaten after pickling in Russia and Finland, it is highly irritant to the digestive system when eaten raw.

Taxonomy

"Torminosus" is reference to the fact that it causes gastro-intestinal distress.

Description

It has a hairy; pale pink funnel-shaped cap up to 12 cm (5 in) in diameter, which is inrolled; furry, and zonate, with indistinct darker bands. The stem is pale salmon, and soon hollow. The gills are narrow; close, and slightly decurrent(running down the stem), and are salmon or tinged pink. When the flesh is broken it bleeds a milky latex; which remains white, and tastes hot, and acrid on the tip of the tongue.cite book | author = Roger Phillips | year = 2006 | title = Mushrooms | publisher = Pan MacMillan | isbn = 0-330-44237-6]

Distribution and Habitat

It grows in association with birch, ("Betula") and is found throughout the United Kingdom, Northern Europe, and is common in North America, where it sometimes grows with aspen ("Populus" species).cite book |author=David Arora |year=1986 |title=Mushrooms Demystified |publisher=Ten Speed Press |isbn=0-89815-169-4]

Edibility

In Finland, Russia and other North European countries it is eaten, after boiling or five-day soaking, pickled and valued for its hot, burning taste. In Norway it is roasted, and added to coffee.

Toxicity

It can induce severe and violent vomiting when eaten fresh, and has been reported to have caused death on one occasion.

References