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Blue milky, in Latin Lactarius indigo, a species of edible mushroom belonging to the genus Millechnikovye, from the russula family. It is unique in its color. Indigo color is not often found in representatives of the taxon, and such a rich color for edible mushrooms is very rare. The species is not found on the territory of the countries of the former Soviet Union.
Despite its exotic appearance, the mushroom is edible
Description of the blue milkman
The mushroom got its name due to the color of the fruit body, bright, juicy, with age only changing its shade and fading a little. To Russians not too sophisticated in mycology, the photo of the blue Millechnik may seem retouched. But there is no need to do this - the legs, hats and milky juice really have the color of classic jeans.
Description of the hat
The hat is round, lamellar, characteristic of the shape of the mushrooms. It has a diameter of 5 to 15 cm, clearly visible concentric circles of saturated and washed blue color on the surface. On the edge there are spots of the same color.
The young hat is sticky and convex, with curved edges, indigo. With age, it becomes dry, funnel-shaped, less often - flat with a depression and a slightly lowered outer part. The color takes on a silvery hue, before decay it turns gray.
The plates are located close to each other. The method of attaching the hymenophore to the pedicle is classified as descending or descending. Young mushrooms have blue plates, then brighten. Their color is always more intense and darker than that of other parts of the fruiting body.
The pulp and acrid milky juice are blue. When damaged, the fruiting body of the fungus gradually oxidizes and turns green. The aroma is neutral. Spores are yellow.
The edges of the hats are bent down, and the plates are of a particularly rich indigo color.
Leg description
The thick cylindrical leg reaches a maximum height of 6 cm with a diameter of 1 to 2.5 cm. At a young age, it is sticky, then it becomes dry. The color of the leg is the same as that of the cap, but it is covered not with concentric circles, but with specks.
Concentric circles are clearly visible on the head, and dots on the stem
Types of blue milkmen
The blue miller is a species; it cannot include taxa of its rank. But he has a variety of Lactarius indigo var. Diminutivus. It differs from the original form in its smaller size.
Hat var. Diminutivus reaches 3-7 cm in diameter, with a stem 3-10 mm. The rest of the mushroom is no different from the original.
The variety differs from the original species only in size
Where and how do Blue Milkyrs grow
The mushroom does not grow in Russia. Its range extends to the Central, southern and eastern parts of North America, China, India. In Europe, the species can only be found in the south of France.
Blue Milky grows singly or in groups, forms mycorrhiza in coniferous and deciduous forests. Prefers forest edges and wet, but not excessively places. The life of the fungus is 10-15 days. After that, it begins to rot and becomes unusable for collection.
The species grows in Virginia (USA).
Are Blue Milkers Edible Or Not
Photos of the Mlechnik blue mushroom make many lovers of quiet hunting think that it belongs to the poisonous one. It is with them that the hats are usually painted in such bright colors. Meanwhile, the mushroom is edible, even without the prefix "conditionally".
Cooking usually (but not necessarily) involves pre-steeping the fruiting body to remove the milky sap and accompanying bitterness. Mushrooms are placed in salted water for several days, the liquid is often changed.
It is recommended to boil them for 15 minutes before cooking or salting. If the mushroom is not used in blanks, with insufficient heat treatment, it can cause gastrointestinal upset in people who are not accustomed to such dishes.
Doubles and their differences
It is unlikely that many Russians will ever have to collect blue Millechniks, but it will be useful to know the differences between this mushroom and similar ones. Although only Lactarius indigo has a truly blue color among the representatives of the genus, it is difficult to confuse it with other species. Among similar ones:
- Lactarius chelidonium - edible species, usually grows under coniferous trees. The bluish cap has a gray or yellow tint, more pronounced along the edge and on the stem. Milky juice from yellow to brown.
Turns green with age
- Lactarius paradoxus grows in eastern North America in coniferous and deciduous forests.
The milky juice is blue, the plates are brown with a purple or red tint
- Lactarius quieticolor, or Ginger is not bright, edible, grows in the coniferous forests of Europe.
At the break, the hat is blue, its surface is orange with a shade of indigo
Conclusion
Blue Miller is an edible mushroom with an exotic appearance. It is difficult to confuse it with others, it is really indigo colored. Unfortunately, Russian lovers of quiet hunting can get to know him better only abroad.
