Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus Hesler & Smith
N. Amer. Sp. of Lactarius, p. 369. 1979.

Common Name: none

• Pileus

  Cap 9-21 cm broad, convex-depressed, the margin incurved, often wavy; surface viscid when moist, smooth, obscurely zonate, buff-brown, light grey-brown, sometimes spotted or mottled darker brown, at times tinged lilac, typically lighter at maturity; flesh thick, pallid to cream, unchanging; odor indistinct; taste mildly peppery.

• Lamellae

  Gills subdecurrent, moderately broad, close to crowded, cream becoming dingy-buff in age; latex white unchanging but discoloring gill tissue grey-brown.

• Stipe

  Stipe 7-14 cm tall, 2-5 cm thick, stout, stuffed, more or less equal; surface subviscid to dry, cream, irregularly pale-buff in age; flesh white unchanging; veil absent.

• Spores

  Spores 7-9 µm, round to subglobose with partially reticulate amyloid ornamentation; spore print cream-yellow.

• Habitat

  Solitary to scattered under oaks, especially Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia); fruiting from mid to late winter.

• Edibility

  Unknown.

• Comments

  Large size and drab coloration characterize Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus. Lactarius pallescens is similar though usually paler colored, smaller, with a latex that stains gill tissue lilac, not grey-brown. The largest of our local milky caps, Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus can be common in some years and rare in others.

• 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 Wood: Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus (CP)
  • MICH Fungal Bioinformatics Project: Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus (D)
  • Mushroom Observer: Lactarius argillaceifolius var. megacarpus (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 76 (D & P)
  • Methven: p. 31 (D)
  
  

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