Lactarius alnicola A. H. Smith
Brittonia 12: 319. 1960.

Common Name: none

• Pileus

  Cap 6-13 cm broad, convex, becoming shallowly infundibuliform; margin inrolled when young, sometimes slightly pubescent, but smooth in age; surface viscid, a mixture of yellow tones arranged in faint concentric bands; flesh, thick, white, firm; odor indistinct, taste very peppery.

• Lamellae

  Gills decurrent, crowded, narrow, white becoming yellow-buff, bruising yellowish; latex white, usually unchanging, but sometimes pale yellow.

• Stipe

  Stipe 2-5 cm tall, 1.5-2.5 cm thick, equal to tapered at the base, at first solid, then hollow, whitish at the apex, ochraceous-brown elsewhere, with darker yellow-brown spots (scrobiculations); veil absent.

• Spores

  Spore 7-10 x 6-8 µm, elliptical with reticulate, amyloid ornamentation; spore print white to pale yellow.

• Habitat

  Solitary to gregarious in mixed hardwood/conifer woods; common locally under Quercus (Oaks) and Salix (Willows); fruiting from early fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Inedible; intensely peppery.

• Comments

  Lactarius alnicola is distinguished by a viscid, vanilla-colored, slightly zonate cap, white, usually unchanging latex and a yellow-brown spotted stipe. It is rather common in our area under Quercus agrifolia (Coast Liveoak) where inexperienced collectors sometimes mistake if for the yellow chanterelle, Cantharellus cibarius. It is a mistake made only once as the taste is unforgettably peppery. Ironically, despite its species name, Lactarius alnicola is not common under alder.

• References

  Methven, A.S. (1997). The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 10. Russulaceae II. Lactarius. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 79 p.
  Hesler, L.R. & Smith, A.H. (1979). North American Species of Lactarius. University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor, MI. 841 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
• Michael Boom: Lactarius alnicola (CP) -- closeup
• Ari Kornfeld: Lactarius alnicola (CP)
• Ari Kornfeld: Lactarius alnicola (CP) -- older sporocarps
• Fred Stevens: Lactarius alnicola (CP)
• Michael Wood: Lactarius alnicola (CP) -- closeup
• Michael Wood: Lactarius alnicola (CP)
• Mushroom Observer: Lactarius alnicola (CP)
• MICH Fungal Bioinformatics Project: Lactarius alnicola (D & I)
• Arora (1986): p. 71 (D), plate 5 (CP)
• Methven: p. 42 (D)
• Phillips: p. 96 (CP), p. 97 (D)
• Hesler & Smith (1979): p. 300 (D), plate 110 (P)



(D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)