Fungi that ooze latex may not seem worthy of anyone’s appetite, though these mushrooms, known as “milk cap mushrooms,” are certainly a group worth learning!
Milk cap mushrooms (in the genera Lactarius and Lactifluus) form important associations with various tree species, and the value of these mushrooms to wildlife (specifically to animals and insects) is high. Additionally, many milk cap mushrooms have been shown to be sources of naturally occurring rubber.
Perhaps the most exciting feature of milk cap mushrooms (at least from the mycophagist’s perspective) is that some of them are edible… and quite delicious!
Featured in this video is a milk cap mushroom that perhaps you’ve been overlooking all these years. If you’re interested in adding a new species to your list, check it out!