Lactarius piperatus

Taxobox | name = Lactarius piperatus

---

image_width = 240px
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
class = Homobasidiomycetes
ordo = Russulales
familia = Russulaceae
genus = "Lactarius"
species = "L. piperatus"
binomial = "Lactarius piperatus"
binomial_authority = (L.) Pers.mycomorphbox
name = Lactarius piperatus
whichGills = decurrent
capShape = covex
hymeniumType= gills
stipeCharacter= bare
ecologicalType= mycorrhizal
sporePrintColor= white
howEdible= edible

"Lactarius piperatus", commonly known as the peppery milk-cap is a semi-edible basidiomycete fungus of the genus "Lactarius". Despite being edible, it is not recommended due to its poor taste, though can be used as seasoning when dried. The fruiting body is a creamy-white mushroom which is funnel-shaped when mature, with exceptionally crowded gills. Like all milk-caps, it bleeds a whitish peppery-tasting milk when cut.

Widely distributed across Europe and eastern North America, "Lactarius piperatus" has been accidentally introduced to Australia. Mycorrhizal, it forms a symbiotic relationship with various species of deciduous tree, including beech, and hazel, and fruiting bodies are found on the forest floor in deciduous woodland.

Taxonomy

The species was one of the many species named by Linnaeus who officially described it in Volume Two of his "Species Plantarum" in 1753 as "Agaricus piperatus", [la icon cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=C | authorlink=Carolus Linnaeus | title=Species Plantarum: Tomus II | publisher=Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii). | date=1753| pages=p. 1173] the specific epithet deriving from the Latin adjective "piperatus" meaning "peppery". [cite book | last = Simpson | first = D.P. | title = Cassell's Latin Dictionary | publisher = Cassell Ltd. | date= 1979 | edition = 5 | location = London | pages = 883 | isbn = 0-304-52257-0]

For many years, Tyrolian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli had been considered the author of the first description, however a recent revision of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature in 1987 changed the rules regarding the starting date and primary work for names of fungi. Previously, the starting date had been set as January 1st 1821, the date of the works of the 'father of mycology', Swedish naturalist Elias Magnus Fries, but now names can be considered valid as far back as May 1st 1753, the date of publication of Linneaus' seminal work. [cite book | last = Esser| first = Karl|coauthors=Lemke, paul A. | title = The Mycota: A Comprehensive Treatise on Fungi as Experimental Systems for Basic and Applied Research | publisher = Springer | date= 1994| pages = p. 181| isbn = 3540664939]

It is currently the type species of the genus "Lactarius", however in the complex relationship between "Lactarius" and "Russula" it is somewhat isolated from many other milk-cap species and there has been discussion for the type to be redesignated in the likely break-up of the milk-cap genus. [cite journal |author=Buyck B, Hofstetter V, Eberhardt U, Verbeken A, Kauff F. |year=2008|title=Walking the thin line between "Russula" and "Lactarius": the dilemma of "Russula" subsect. "Ochricompactae". |journal=Fungal Diversity 28 |volume=28 |pages=15-40 |id= |url=http://www.fungaldiversity.org/fdp/sfdp/28-2.pdf |accessdate=2008-08-16]

It is commonly known as the peppery milk cap, pepper milkcap, [cite book |title= A Field Guide to Mushrooms|last= Peterson|first= Roger Tory|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=kSdA3V7Z9WcC&pg=RA1-PA333&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U0_Wt9FGk3GlL44O-pOSeR_O7r_0g#PRA1-PA333,M1|accessdate= 2008-08-16|coauthors= McKnight, Kent H.|year= 1998|publisher= Mariner Books|isbn= 9780395910900|pages= 333] peppery Lactarius,cite book |title= Mushroom Book|last= Marshall|first= Nina L.|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=S9pn8CAQY1YC&pg=PA92&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=lang_en&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U2K8T8TGD6HaCPHWKot6b-UPPYX1A#PPA92,M1|accessdate= 2008-08-16|year= 2003|publisher= Kessinger Publishing|isbn= 9780766137769|pages= 92] peppery milk mushroom,cite book |title= Field Guide to Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic|last= Russell|first= Bill|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=vLgjr5p0XFkC&pg=PA136&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=lang_en&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U2Bm8d56FUhLwcghB9xm-_L1ZKzAQ|accessdate= 2008-08-16|year= 2006|publisher= Penn State Press|isbn= 9780271028910|pages= 79] white peppery milk-cap, or other similar names. Similarly, in German it is known as the "Pfeffer-milchling".cite book|last=Zeitlmayr |first=Linus|year=1976|title=Wild Mushrooms:An Illustrated Handbook|publisher=Garden City Press, Hertfordshire|isbn= 0-584-10324-7|pages=p. 87]

Description

"L. piperatus" has a cap that varies from 6–16 cm (2.4–6.4 in) across and is convex with a widely funnel-shaped centre. The cap is creamy-white in colour, glabrous and not glossy; its surface may become cracked in dry locales.cite book | last = Haas |first=Hans | year = 1969 | title = The Young Specialist looks at Fungi |pages=p. 74| publisher = Burke | isbn= 0-222-79409-7] The stipe is white in colour, smooth,cite book |title= Mushrooms and Toadstools|last= Pegler|first= David N.|year= 1983|publisher= Mitchell Beazley Publishing|location= London|isbn= 0855335009|pages= 77] 3–7 cm (1.4–2.8 in) long by 2–3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) thick and is cylindrical, sometimes tapering towards the base.cite book |title= Mushrooms and Other Fungi of Great Britain and Europe|last= Phillips|first= Roger|year= 1981|publisher= Pan Books|location= London|isbn= 0330264419|pages= p. 77] There is a thick layer of firm white flesh, and the decurrent gills are particularly crowded and narrow, sharing the white colouration of the stem but becoming creamy with age. As with other species of "Lactarius", there is abundant milk, which is white, and dries olive-green.cite book | author = Thomas Laessoe | year = 1998 | title = Mushrooms (flexi bound) | Publisher = Dorling Kindersley | isbn = 0-7513-1070-0] It has a white spore print with elongate, elliptic or amyloid spores which are ornamented, as with "L. vellereus". The spores measure from 6.5–9.5 by 5–8 μm, and have tiny warts.

"L. vellereus" is larger with a thick stipe, woolly cap and less crowded gills, but is not as tall. "Russula delica" is similar in colour and shape, though has adnate blue-green tinged gills and no milk. "L. deceptivus" is also similar, but is differentiated by its less crowded gills, firmer cap margin and less acrid milk. [cite book |title= Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians|last= Roody|first= William C.|year= 2003|publisher= University Press of Kentucky|isbn= 9780813190396|pages= 88|accessdate= 2008-08-18|url= http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5HGMPEiy4ykC&pg=PA88&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=lang_en&as_brr=3&client=firefox-a&sig=ACfU3U0Gd5NYpzFwXGy5kf7lOAjsj4NTUw#PPA88,M1]

Distribution and habitat

"L. piperatus" is found in Europe, the Black sea region in northeastern Turkey, [cite journal |author=Sesli E|year=2007|title=Checklist of the Turkish ascomycota and basidiomycota collected from the Black Sea region|journal=Mycotaxon |volume=99 |pages=71-74 |id= |url=http://mycotaxon.com/resources/checklists/sesliv99-checklist.pdf|format=PDF |accessdate=2008-08-10] and eastern and central North America east of Minnesota.cite book |author=David Arora |year=1986 |title=Mushrooms Demystified |publisher=Ten Speed Press |isbn=0-89815-169-4|pages=p. 71] It has been accidentally introduced into Australasia, where it is found under introduced and native trees.cite book |title= Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of the World|last= Hall|first= Ian Robert|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=yqHA_M7BVRcC&pg=PA111&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=lang_en&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U0uKaT5qATsVZdS1Wv8RBdF5WpYOw#PPA156,M1|accessdate= 2008-08-16|coauthors= Buchanan, Peter K.; Stephenson, Steven L.; Yun, Wang; Cole, Anthony L. J.|year= 2003|publisher= Timber Press|isbn= 9780881925869|pages= 156] [Fuhrer B. (2005) "A Field Guide to Australian Fungi". Bloomings Books. ISBN 1-876473-51-7 p. 105]

It is found on the floor in deciduous woodland, particularly beech, and can be found throughout summer and autumn and into early winter.cite book | last = Haas |first=Hans | year = 1969 | title = The Young Specialist looks at Fungi |pages=p. 74| publisher = Burke | isbn= 0-222-79409-7] It is relatively common, though not as common as its cousin "L. vellereus". "L. piperatus" is found solitarily or in scattered groups.cite book |title= The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe|last= Jordan|first= Michael|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=ULhwByKCyEwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=lang_en&as_brr=3&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0#PPA305,M1|accessdate= 2008-08-16|year= 2004|publisher= Frances Lincoln|isbn= 9780711223783|pages= 305] It is sometimes found growing together with "Russula cyanoxantha".

Edibility

Though sometimes being described as inedible or even poisonous, "L. piperatus" is considered edible. Despite this, it is not recommended. It has an unpleasant taste and is difficult to digest, but is used as a seasoning when dried, or sometimes is eaten fresh after parboiling, though its taste is still unappetising. Some recommend frying in butter with bacon and onion or pickling, or baking in a pie or pastry as other ways to prepare it. The milk has a very hot and acrid taste, which is removed if boiled. The mushroom used to be highly regarded in Russia, [cite book |title= Classic Russian Cooking|last= Molokhovets|first= Elena|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=ttlCGJxfLRUC&pg=PA95&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U1J7QI6Oym2MvVoZ6fBPazjuEFYLw|accessdate= 2008-08-16|coauthors= Stetson Toomre, Joyce|year= 1992|publisher= Indiana University Press|isbn= 9780253212108|pages= 95] where it would be picked in dry seasons when other edible species were less available. When eaten fresh and raw, the mushroom has been known to cause an irritant reaction on the lips and tongue, which subsides after an hour.cite book |title= Handbook of Mushroom Poisoning|last= Spoerke|first= David G.|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=WPWsZNvOqVAC&pg=PA356&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U3flEstrIsBc7CgnIjpytnDp6x5CA|accessdate= 2008-08-16|coauthors= Rumack, Barry H.|year= 1994|publisher= CRC Press|isbn= 9780849301940|pages= 356] "L. piperatus" var. "glaucescens" has been reported to be poisonous. [cite book |title= Texas Mushrooms|last= Metzler|first= Susan|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=HRtfvVigMmsC&pg=PA121&vq=Lactarius+piperatus&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=&as_brr=3&source=gbs_search_s&sig=ACfU3U3j-IrggB20dkPqgLDDOzN3a5zhOw#PPA121,M1|accessdate= 2008-08-16|year= 1992|publisher= University of Texas Press|isbn= 9780292751255|pages= 121]

It forms part of an unusual and highly regarded dish in North America; "L. piperatus" one species of several colonised by the lobster mushroom "Hypomyces lactifluorum". This results in a orange-pink crusty outer-skin which improves the taste. [Arora, p. 884] It is also a common source of food among red squirrels. [cite journal |last= Camazine|first= Scott|coauthors= Lupo, Andrew T., Jr|year= 1984|month= March-April|title= Labile Toxic Compounds of the Lactarii: The Role of the Laticiferous Hyphae as a Storage Depot for Precursors of Pungent Dialdehydes|journal= Mycologia|volume= 76|publisher= Mycological Society of America|issn= 0027-5514|issue= 2|pages= pp. 355-358|quote= ]

Other uses

Due to the presence of auxins in "L. piperatus" metabolites, it can be used to aid the growth of seedlings of various species of plants, including hazel, beech and oak. [cite book |title= Somatic Embryogenesis in Woody Plants|last= Mohan Jain|first= S.|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=kcOpOB39QuMC&pg=PT454&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U0Loradqox6t1aTjs3CsHVvk0-5CA|accessdate= 2008-08-16|coauthors= Gupta, Pramod K.; Newton, Ronald J.|year= 1999|publisher= Springer|location= Germany|isbn= 9780792330707|pages= 434] In the 19th century, it was also used for medicinal purposes, though it had no effect. [cite book |title= The Romance of the Fungus World|last= Rolfe|first= F. W.|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=BQBNC8pABzoC&pg=PA140&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=lang_en&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U2xRGkHQer6WfbnWoUIxKi6sPN-_w#PPA140,M1|accessdate= 2008-08-16|year= 1974|publisher= Courier Dover Publications|isbn= 9780486231051|pages= 140] In more recent times, it has been found to be useful against viral warts. [cite book |title= Cancer and the Search for Selective Biochemical Inhibitors|last= Hoffman|first= Edward Jack|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=WiIVBWKJhYwC&pg=RA1-PA178&dq=%22Lactarius+piperatus%22&lr=lang_en&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U1L4nZEf9ZSts7qx9ldb1j2B4Tn1g|accessdate= 2008-08-16|year= 1999|publisher= CRC Press|isbn= 9780849391187|pages= 178]

References