Lactarius blennius (Fr. ex Fr.) Fr. Graugrüner Milchling, Lactaire musqueux, Beech Milkcap. Cap 4–10cm across, flattened convex, later centrally depressed, pale olive to greeny grey, pale greyish sepia or even dull greenish, with darker, drop-like blotches often grouped into concentric bands, very slimy when moist, margin incurved. Stem 40–50 x 10–17mm, paler than the cap, pale olive to pale grey or whitish, slimy. Flesh whitish. Gills slightly decurrent, white or whitish at first, later creamy to very pale buff, becoming brownish greyish when wounded. Milk white, drying grey; taste very hot and acrid. Spore print creamy (C) with a flesh-coloured tinge. Spores elliptic with low warts joined by ridges with a few cross connections, and tending to run across the spores, 7–8 x 5.5–6.5µ. Habitat broad-leaved woods, especially beech. Season late summer to late autumn. Very common. Edible if cooked but not recommended (Never eat any mushroom until you are certain it is edible as many are poisonous and some are deadly poisonous.) Distribution, America and Europe. |