Lactarius oculatus |
The Eye Spot Milky. Found late summer, early fall. This milk cap mushroom has several features that are not always apparent: the lined cap margin, zonate cap when young and absence of papilla (nipple) when cap becomes depressed, or sunken. |
These collections of Lactarius oculatus were associated with spruce, pine and mosses; various hardwoods also present. Growing in boggy area that remains damp even during dry weather. |
The cap and stem of Lactarius oculatus is sometimes covered with a fine whitish down (canescent) described as a bloom or dusting. Latex white and sometimes changing to pale yellow. Spore print white; also reported as pale yellow in mass. Note different lengths of gills. |
The base of the stem of the eye spot milky sometimes exhibits stiff white hairs, usually when growing near wood. Will sometimes appear to grow from wood, but actually grows from the ground and through the wood. |
The cystidia of Lactarius oculatus have tapered, pointed and constricted ends. |
See North American species of Lactarius, Hesler and Smith, 1979 Notes on Lactarius in the high-elevation forests of the southern Appalachians, G.F. Bills, Mycologia 78(1), 1986. |